ON the evening of Thursday December 2, I along with several other members of a concerned public, attended a full district council meeting in Coleford. We felt that we represented the feelings of the majority of the inhabitants of the Forest of Dean in not wanting any sell-off of our Forest.

It would appear that most of the Tory councillors were not of the same frame of mind. Cllr Marion Winship moved a considered and well-worded motion which admirably reflected the views of Foresters.

As probably one of the most important issues ever to be brought before the council, this motion should have been voted through immediately. Instead the proceedings disintegrated rapidly after Cllr Peter Amos, the leader of the council, tried to score political points by bringing in a hurriedly prepared amendment.

Unresearched debate followed, with one councillor quoting the 1967 Forestry Act, seemingly unaware that this had been superseded by the 1981 Act which effectively exempted the Forest of Dean from any sell-off. Cllr Amos's amendment was voted through by his fellow Tory councillors who, I am sure, just felt pressurised to toe the party line.

I would urge all inhabitants of the Forest of Dean to speak to their district councillor to make them fully aware of the strength of feeling that we all have about this issue. May I remind everyone that time is running out as the Public Bodies Bill is currently going through Parliament.

The district council has one final chance to redeem itself when the debate continues on Wednesday December at 8, 6pm in the Council Offices. Otherwise I for one will be asking for a vote of no confidence in our District Council.

– Averil Kear.