THERE is an “almost visceral upset” in the Forest that the district council could be abolished as part of a shake-up of local government in Gloucestershire, it has been claimed.

Cllr Ray Donaghue, the Reform UK county councillor for Cinderford said that has been the reaction of people he has spoken to while out canvassing.

He was speaking in support of a motion put to the full meeting of Gloucestershire County Council which asked the current Liberal Democrat to advocate for a model for a future single county-wide council which combines efficient services with robust local democracy and meaningful community engagement.

The motion was passed although the government has “paused” the reorganisation.

Cllr Donaghue said: “Nearly everybody I spoke spoke to, whether they liked us or not, had an almost visceral upset about losing the district council, because they feel that government's going be done to them from a distance.

Cllr Chris McFarling (Green, Sedbury) said: “The Forest of Dean District Council recognised that LGR(local government reorganisation) would remove its identity, built through its history and geography, the land between two rivers.

“No surprise, therefore, that the Forest Council voted for none of the above of the options presented to it.”

Cllr Stuart Graham (Independent, Mitcheldean) said he was concerned that the “neighbourhood partnerships” that would replace district councils would be a strong enough voice.

He added: “I hope that this motion will somehow be used as a moral obligation, if not a legal one, for the people who are designing the LGR to take forward.”

Cllr Gill Moseley (Liberal Democrat, Newent) said the lack of a major centre in the Forest made it even more important to recognise the potential danger that the top down policies of this Labour government. present, and that they are mitigated as far as possible, at the very lowest level in local government.”

Cllr Piers Camp (Reform UK Drybrook and Lydbrook) said he was concerned that councillors on the new authority would have to be full-time to cope with the workload.

He said: “Currently there's 46 councillors in the Forest of Dean and it could end up being just 12.

“How are those people really gonna understand what's happening in their areas on a day-to-day basis unless they’re paid full-time, and acting full-time.”

Cllr Martin Horwood (Liberal Democrat, Leckhampton), who proposed the motion said if the proposals went ahead the Gloucestershire council would be one of the largest in the country.

He added: “That poses a real risk. It poses a risk of the loss of democratic accountability, because the council chambers where we used to have the time and the space to debate really local issues. in detail will be lost.

“It is vital that we set out the broad principles right now.

“What we want from this new council, if it is going ahead.

“Most importantly of all community identity and existing commitments will be honoured throughout the reorganisation process and that there will be governance arrangements that enable communities to exercise meaningful influence.”