THE FOREST of Dean let their voices be heard to the four candidates fighting to become the next MP for the constituency a week tomorrow.

On a freezing Monday night at St Mary’s Parish Church in Lydney, the debate was decidedly warm as a packed audience made their feelings know to those who wish to be elected.

The main battlegrounds were, nationally, on education and finance and, locally, on the closure of Lydney and the Dilke hospitals to be replaced by one unit, probably at Cinderford.

Climate change and public transport in the Forest were all subjects which saw Conservative Mark Harper, Labour’s Di Martin, Green Party candidate Chris McFarling and Independent Julian Burrett quizzed robustly.

Forest resident Louise Perry asked the candidates whether the two hospitals identified to make way for a new facility in Cinderford should be saved.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER