I WAS interested to read your editorial about funding for the Forest of Dean by the South West Development Agency and that we have been overlooked yet again in favour of other areas in the county by yet another government agency.
I have said for some time we only have ourselves to blame. We as a community in the Forest of Dean do not voice our opinions when we are overlooked, we are content to roll over and let things happen around us.
The loss of our police stations, ambulance service our court house, post offices and many other facilities that we used to enjoy were not worth fighting for and so we lost them.
Where is the spirit that saved our local hospitals, where are the good people that stood up against the bureaucrats and said 'no, enough is enough.'
When you do stand together as one voice, they listen. We today as a community, as a result of standing firm, still enjoy these very worthwhile facilities.
I read that a newly-elected county councillor Will Windsor-Clive and Graham Morgan have vowed to fight tooth and nail for a rethink. They will be lone voices.
We have a newly elected Conservative council. Will they give weight to this cause and does our MP as our constituency representative think this is worthwhile also? If the answer is yes, then we might have a chance, but it will take unity of voice to persuade the SWRDA to sit up and listen.
The only time that politicians and bureaucrats listen is when we the voters make a stand on a common cause.
Our community is likely to suffer further with the sweeping cuts to budgets that are inevitable during this crisis and the loss of essential services will be felt more and more.
Please use your right to lobby your councillors and MP for change and let them know that you support them in their efforts to contest this SWRDA decision and other changes that will affect your community. – Robert Harris (ex Berry Hill).