I FEEL I must reply to your report on the Highfield Hill Development in Lydney.

You failed to report on the original application by Persimmon Homes for renewal of consent on land at Highfield Hill Lydney at the February development control meeting. At this meeting I stated my anger at the reduction of section 106 money for highway improvements in Lydney, and pointed out that all highway improvements in Lydney must be financed by 106 payments from Lydney developments such as this one. I also pointed out that the development of the land east of Lydney could be a long time coming and Lydney could not wait up to 15 years, with appalling highway situations, such as the Bream Road Junction.

I moved at the February meeting that this application be deferred to the March meeting so as we could get the reasons why Gloucestershire Highways did not object to the loss of over £100,000 of 106 money on this development. My motion for deferment to allow the officers to ask these questions was carried.

The reasons given by Highways were having taken into consideration the implications of the new Community Infrastructure Levy and having calculated that the development would only generate a one percent increase in vehicle movements along Newerne Street, the Highways Authority had been unable to justify the additional contributions that had been proposed on the first application.

This being the case I took into consideration the response from Highways and decided that the risk of the Forest of Dean Council losing an appeal was highly likely, thus costing the council thousands of pounds.

I have checked with the planning department at the district council that Lydney Town Council had been kept informed at every stage of this application, as no representatives of Lydney Town Council registered to speak on this application. I was assured that all the statutory notices were sent – the last one being February 2, 2012 pointing out the report, where to find it on the council website and informing them of the right to speak on the application at the meeting. A Lydney town councillor is a member of the development control committee.

Coun Terry Glastonbury

Lydney