I REFER to the letter from councillor Bevan and your editorial in last week's Forester.

The headlines "Does anyone care about us"? although perhaps sensational, were certainly appropriate. The story merely highlighted the plight of innocent, forgotten victims who, through no fault of their own, had their properties flooded on Christmas Eve. Even after these headlines, they still have not received a visit or communication from anyone in authority, the only visitor has been myself, so where is this care which councillor Bevan talks about?

Where was this care when Colin Legge, a true hero in the flooding, brought his concerns about timber which had been felled in February 2013 at the rear of his property in Lakeside Avenue, to the attention of Lydney Town Council, who discussed it on July 8 when councillor Preest was present? With no reply or advice from this council, Colin visited the FODDC offices personally in October to express his ongoing concerns of an impending flooding situation. Both councils were therefore familiar with the situation but ignored Colin's pleas, with non-replies of advice.

Coun Bevan praises his heroics with coun Preest, quite rightly so. What he does not state is that the timber, rubbish and detritus, removed by them still remains adjacent to the watercourse, on land owned by the FODDC, waiting to create another possible disaster. Coun Bevan states that 'the owners are now clearing this site on the instruction of the FODDC' - totally untrue. Any removals to date have been arranged by a member of the public and myself, the FODDC have played no part whatsoever in removal. The only advice, which was given after the flooding, was that the screen which caused the flooding was Colin's responsibility. He later received an apology from the principal solicitor of the FODDC as such a statement is unfounded.

Coun Preest stated in the Citizen that 'it is a disaster waiting to happen'. Why, therefore, with months of prior knowledge, didn't he perform his heroics beforehand and avert this disastrous and ruinous flooding occurring? Instead six properties were flooded for the first time with serious implications for their innocent owners. Will they be able to obtain insurance for their present claim or for the future and if so will it be inflated? Will they ever be able to sell their properties and will there be any legal implications?

This man made flooding disaster happened through sheer negligence and has only brought further unwanted stigma to Lakeside Avenue.

Gordon Blake

Lydney