My statements that Conservative government policies ignore the needs of the old and the poor, which are well documented, seem to have touched a nerve with Brian Thornton. He then states that the county council have done a number of things of questionable merit which is supposed to offset my complaints. His argument is specious, and has no bearing on my complaint.

He states that 63 more policemen have been provided. However the Chief Constable says that he is underfunded, and has to cut services, and across the Forest all the parishes and towns have had their policing reduced. Coleford council has complained to the Secretary of State about it.

A 25 per cent increase in road repairs would be a joke if it was not so serious. The A48 and B4228 are a patchwork of temporary repairs, complained about for years. Only at Aylburton has a major repair been done, but not on the pavements, and how much money is 25 per cent? And so on, as usual, smoke and mirrors.

Let us remember that the Conservatives invented council tax, they deregulated the banks and we are all paying for that, they divided the railways into 19 different companies, they supported the war with Iraq, and worst of all they broke the link between the cost of living and pensions which affects everybody.

Who would want to keep that kind of performance going? – Roy Birch, district councillor, Tidenham.