I HAVE been a dog walker here for nearly 30 years. However, I no longer feel this is possible due to the increasing boar population and the realistic risk of injury to myself or my dog.

I have researched this and found that an increasing number of local people neither ride or walk in the Forest due to what is an escalating problem.

It is unbelievable that we are expecting the young, elderly or people with restricted mobility to venture out among an uncontr-

olled population of boar. An animal that is classified in the category Dangerous Animals.

It seems at a time when we are suppose to be encouraging the population to exercise, we in this area are actively preventing it. What a deplorable situation!

Apart from the risk of injury to people, dogs and horses there is also the massive amount of damage that is impacting on our local communities.

Another real concern is the possibility of the cross infection of disease.

The group known as The Friends of the Boar are providing arguments that don't stack up, figures that don't add up and petitions that are signed by people that do not live in this area and more to the point do not exercise in this area.

Surely it is time to allow the authorities concerned to deal with the situation as their expertise dictates and stop being unhelpful and obstructive.

It is time for the local community to make a stance against what is an unacceptable situation and provide the Forestry Commission with a more unbiased picture.

I would therefore implore anyone who has any concerns or issues in relation to the boar to log them with the Forestry Commission either by email westengland@

forestry.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 01594 833057.

Name and address supplied