Proposals for a local government overhaul that could lead to the Forest of Dean lose its own council have sparked calls for residents to assert their rights and even "consider independence or joining Wales".
Concerns are mounting the district is being sidelined as the "poor relation" amidst talks about reorganising councils in Gloucestershire.
Forest of Dean District Councillors are urging local leaders to be bold in defending an area famed for its history of outspokenness. They are adamant about not repeating past patterns of "being put upon and shut out of the way".
At their March 20 meeting, councillors reviewed the letter sent to Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, on behalf of all the county's councils the week previously.
This correspondence presented three proposals for Gloucestershire: one featuring a unitary authority merging all six districts with the Gloucestershire County Council; another suggesting two unitary councils with one covering Gloucester, Forest of Dean, and Stroud in the west, and the other encompassing Cheltenham, Cotswolds, and Tewkesbury in the east; and lastly, the idea of a city-centred unitary council focussed on a 'Greater Gloucester', in addition to either one or two unitaries for the remaining county areas.
Councillor Tim Gwilliam (Progressive Independents), former leader of the Forest of Dean District Council, emphasised that they "cannot be left to be the poor relation again".
He said some of the discussion around council reorganisation reminded him of Depeche Mode's1983 hit song Everything Counts: "I'm reminded, because of my vintage, of a Depeche Mode song which goes 'the grabbing hands, grab all they can' when I see leaders of Gloucester City Council who want to claim parts of places around them and I see Cheltenham Borough Council issuing reports they haven't shown to other people."
He added: "I'm pleased the leader, cabinet and officers are taking a forward thinking view from the Forest of Dean. We can't be left just to be left to be the poor relations again. There's an element of that going on.
"People are seeing Cyber Central, an investment that has been going on for a long time, which we have been part of getting for other areas and they are trying to syphon it off for themselves. I think it's sickening. If we are in it together, we are in it together.
"But don't try and kid us to get our leader to sign joint statements and letters that we have got to work together and then go off and do your own thing – because that's just pathetic."
Councillor John Francis (I, Longhope and Huntley) spoke of the district's resilience and assertiveness: "We also have a history of being put upon and shut out of the way," he said.
He encouraged a strong, independent stance: "We have got to look at this as an opportunity to be the Forest of Dean District."
And he urged his colleagues to take a firm stand: "If we don't like what other people are doing, let's stand up for ourselves and say we don't like it.
"We don't think it benefits us, our ward members and the people who live here. Let's not be afraid to put our point on it and stand by what we believe."
Councillor Shaun Stammers (L, Mitcheldean, Ruardean and Drybrook) raised the idea of a significant political change. "I'm voting", he affirmed.
He went on to suggest: "Next we should have a motion to declare independence from Gloucestershire and have a referendum to see if the people want to be part of Wales."
Councillor Julia Gooch (Progressive Independents, Newent and Taynton) criticised the conduct of local MPs, remarking that it was "very disgraceful" how they supported council restructuring plans "without even consulting the public".
Meanwhile, Council leader Adrian Birch (G, Tidenham) recommended a cautious approach regarding the proposals.
Expressing his concerns, he said they were being "rather forced" into backing decisions and emphasised the necessity of broader public engagement on the matter.
Birch called for patience, saying: "We should see what happens over the course of the next six to nine months". He further explained the immediate steps: "We have to provide a further document in November which works up what we as a group of councils have agreed."
Underlining the importance of involving citizens, he added: "There's a strong need to involve the public in that decision process. I'm sure we all have strong reservations about why this is taking place. We need to be shown to be taking action."
However, he also recommended prudence regarding their cultural legacy, saying: "But at the same time we should not forget our heritage and the very nature of what we stand for."
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