I READ with interest, your excellent article last week about the strange arrangements with regard to Meals on Wheels in the Forest of Dean.

Whilst I'm sure most people would agree that trade is good, surely if there is the facility in the Forest of Dean to produce something, at reasonable cost, then this is the route that should be followed. If the Meals on Wheels service for the Forest of Dean were to be taken over by Age Concern then there would be the following benefits:

• Additional employment in the Forest of Dean

• Greater flexibility with regard to the production and delivery of meals.

• Savings with regard to transport costs.

• Reduction in CO2 emissions by travelling fewer miles.

• Removal of transport worries from Merthyr Tydfil in bad weather or delays caused by accidents and road works.

• Use of local taxpayer's cash to support local people and businesses.

I hope that in future those responsible for procurement at both county and district level will look to ensure as much as possible is sourced locally and especially, if for the Forest of Dean, in the Forest of Dean.

Colin Guyton

UKIP County Councillor

Drybrook and Lydbrook