Wind power has never been the answer to Britain's energy needs and it is iniquitous that hard-pressed householders have been forced to contribute to this madness. Therefore, it is with absolute delight that I am pleased to report that from April next year (a year earlier than anticipated) onshore wind-farms will be excluded from the generous hand-out scheme that benefits wealthy developers and investors but penalises everyday energy users. We will no doubt see a surge in applications from the 'greed not green brigade' in the next few months. Once April 2016 arrives their true eggshell-skin green agenda, devoid of subsidy, will easily be revealed. Planning authorities must be strong, competent and resilient in this interim period. However, devoid of a policy in the Forest this leaves us wide open to exploitation as was seen by the planning inspector's decision, against obvious local democracy, regarding the Alvington windmill. To this end, and indeed with a vast plethora of other concerns relating to planning within the Forest, I as a district councillor will be asking the Forest of Dean Council (fully supported by the UKIP group) to set up a working group within the scrutiny process to ensure that public, parish and town confidence in the Forest of Dean district council's planning is restored. – Cllr Alan Preest (UKIP), Forest of Dean District Council, Lydney North.