AN ONLINE petition has been launched by a local councillor who wants to keep the Forest of Dean name under proposed Boundary Commission of England changes.

Tim Gwillam, Labour district and parish councillor for Berry Hill, said: “The Boundaries Commission wish to change the make up of the constituency of the Forest of Dean by adding a part of Tewkesbury to it and changing the name to ‘West Gloucestershire.’ These moves are supported by our MP Mark Harper.

“We, in the local Labour group, believe that the people of the Forest have a great pride in the area we live, including its identity. We therefore call on all Forest of Dean residents or visitors of all party political views to sign this petition and request the Boundaries Commission keep the name ‘The Forest of Dean’ in the title of our constituency.”

To sign the petition, which had 1,030 signatures at the time of going to press, visit www.change.org and search for ‘Forest of Dean’.