FOREST of Dean MP Matt Bishop faced a room of residents last night as long running concerns over the state of local roads and transport were aired at a public meeting in Mitcheldean.

The event, held at Dene Magna School on Monday, December 8, drew a smaller turnout than expected but brought together key representatives from Gloucestershire County Council including the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Strategic Highways, highways managers for both the Forest and West Gloucestershire, and a representative from Street Works.

Mr Bishop said the meeting was called because “people across the Forest are fed up with sitting in long queues, dealing with endless temporary lights, and navigating roads that are full of potholes and never properly repaired.”

He told residents that too many were missing hospital appointments or struggling with daily commutes because “the basics simply are not working.”

One attendee, Russ Taylor, said online that the meeting offered few signs of major schemes on the horizon, He said: “There’s no funding for a bridge at Minsterworth, no plans to remove the hatchings between Highnam roundabout and the Newent turning, no widening of the Over to Longford stretch, and with more than 6000 homes planned it is difficult to see things improving anytime soon.”

Mr Bishop acknowledged that frustrations ran deep and said the issues raised, including congestion and long standing potholes as well as gaps in public transport and road safety concerns, “needed urgent attention.”

He said bringing officials into the same room was about accountability, adding that while there was “no quick fix” he would continue pushing for the Forest to receive its fair share of investment and improvements.

The MP said last night’s meeting marked the start of a wider push to secure progress, promising further updates as discussions with highways bodies continue.