GLOUCESTER Sheriff and Deputy Mayor Pamela Tracey (pictured) has apologised to Foresters for her comments over the boundary row.

A furore erupted when her remarks about plans to move the historic heart of Gloucester into the Forest were branded insulting.

Forest of Dean District Council chairman Norman Stephens told councillors that after talking to her he accepted her comments were "tongue in cheek" and she had not meant to be insulting.

"She was quite upset and has apologised so I think we can draw a line under that," he told a meeting of the full council.

But even though district councillors fear proposals will mean the constituency being re-named after Gloucester, they are so bitterly divided about what to do about it they voted to do nothing.

Because they could not agree on any of the three options on the table, there will be no response from the Forest of Dean District Council to the Boundary Commission proposals.

Council leader Patrick Molyneux (Con, Hewelsfield and Woolaston) wanted to ask the commissioners to think again, taking into account the Forest of Dean's rural nature and the natural balance of the area.

But Councillor Bruce Hogan (Lab, Lydbrook and Ruardean) said the council needed to be more specific and put forward a new Forest of Dean and Tewkesbury constituency as an alternative suggestion.

He said Tewkesbury centre, Twyning and Mitton would be a far more comfortable fit than Gloucester city centre.

Critics on the Conservative benches said his proposal was "presumptious," "inappropriate" and risked sparking a major row with Tewekesbury.

Coun Ian Whitburn (Ind, Mitcheldean and Drybrook) called on councillors to tell the Boundary Commission to leave the Forest alone.

He told councillors that thousands of houses planned for Lydney and Cinderford will mean the constuency growing naturally and the natural boundary of the River Severn could make it a special case.

"I think a position should be made that it is a unique area and very different to the ones they are looking to adopt us with," he said.

"There's a lot of building taking place in the area so our constituency will grow."

But Coun Hogan said the Boundary Commission had made it clear they would not consider any suggestion of creating a "Fortress Forest" and Patrick Molyneux agreed staying the same was not a viable option.

Each voted against the others' suggestions, which left the council with no official response by the closing date of December 5.