CAMPAIGNERS are to hold an emergency meeting this week about the controversial withdrawal of the Five Acres project in Berry Hill and demanded MP Mark Harper back his constituents to force Homes England to ‘honour’ an agreement with the Forest of Dean District Council.

Homes England blocked their request for James Brokenshire MP, the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to approve selling Five Acres to the council for a pound last week saying they were ‘reviewing all issues relating to the case’.

However, that provided an angry response from district council leader Cllr Tim Gwilliam who said they had ‘waited and waited’ for Homes England to ask Mr Brokenshire to look at the case but to no avail.

And, while the campaigners have asked for their MP to take a lead, Mr Harper says, in his exclusive column for The Forester this week, that he has already been in touch with Homes England chief executive Nick Walkley asking for an urgent update on the timeframe of a review to the issue.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER