Cllr Gill Moseley

01/09/2025

Some COUNCIL TAX and BUSINESS RATES payments due at the end of August/beginning of September have been taken twice. Duplicated payments will be refunded on September 2nd. Please see advice on the FoDDC website.

The Forest of Dean District Council website includes local news, provides support and advice for resident and visitors to the area, along with information for planning, housing, Council Tax, business rates, benefits, waste and recycling, consultations, councillors, parking and more.

31/08/2025

Out delivering my Focus newsletter. come rain.or shine ... and it's doing both at the moment! More volunteers always welcome. Deliveries can be tailored as far as length and place are concerned. Come and join the team!

30/08/2025

Somebody had to call this out!

Exclusive: Ed Davey says Starmer should engage with US president but they should not close their eyes to crisis

28/08/2025

Next week sees the reduction in public opening hours of Newent's Freedom Leisure Centre, situated within the grounds and between the buildings of Newent Community School. The Leisure Centre will not be open to the public until 3.30pm on school days.

Below is a copy of the press release explaining the closure as well as some FAQs. Safeguarding the students who attend the school has become a high priority in recent years, especially since the Manchester Arena bombings, Martyn's Law became enshrined in legislation earlier this year and enhanced security measures are being taken in schools throughout the country. Newent Community School is no exception.

There are many residents of Newent and the surrounding areas who are extremely disappointed about the reduction in access. This decision was not taken lightly and steps have been taken to offer alternative access in various other locations using venues run by Freedom Leisure.

The swimming pool seems to be the facility that will be most missed by weekly daytime users. If changing to a later time (after 3.30pm) is not appropriate, there are also other swimming pools at Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury and Riverside Leisure Centre in Gloucester. However, these centres are run independently of Freedom Leisure and will have their own admission systems and fees. The Daffodil line bus service now runs hourly which may help those without cars.

A small market town like Newent is fortunate to have a Leisure Centre with a swimming pool. The town will certainly expand substantially in the next decade or two, opening up the possibility of alternative leisure centres or gyms. But in the meantime, the public can continue to use the centre outside school opening hours until 9.30pm weekdays and until 1pm at weekends.

For those of you who are not so familiar with Newent Lake, opportunities exist there in the form of the outdoor gym and circuits around the lake at no cost but rather dependent on the weather! Exercise, fitness, yoga and Pilates classes as well as walking groups are also available locally.

16/08/2025

ROSS ROAD CLOSURE AUGUST !8th -22nd

I hope the following maps will help clarify the diversions and extent of the closure.

The closure will be from the traffic lights junction by the Ross Road Community Centre on the bypass to beyond any access into the town before Conigree Road. Horsefair Lane is also affected. Access to the town centre and to Dymock is unaffected from the traffic lights junction of B4215/4221/4216. However, more traffic is expected to be using the streets and narrow lanes around Newent for those five days so plan your journey with care and expect congestion.

HGVs will be diverted via the B4215 and Preston Cross. This time there is some indication of road numbers on some of the diversion signs.

15/08/2025

ON TUESDAY there will be a drop-in event at the new Community Pavilion on Watery Lane Recreation Ground, Newent, 3pm - 6.30pm. See below for more details.

The government has nearly doubled the number of houses it expects to be built by 2043 in the Forest of Dean District (and in many other planning authorities). This consultation looks at the options for how to do it. Have your say on whether you think expanding existing towns and villages is the way to go or whether one or more new settlements (ie new towns and villages) should be added to mix. At this point, there are no suggested sites for allocating the houses - this is about the principles. However, where sites have been offered by landowners, it will not be easy to ignore their potential impact on local communities for better or worse.

If you can't get to a drop-in event, the consultation is live online until September 11th. Alternatively, you can email your views.

We have received some fantastic feedback so far at our in-person Local Plan community events.

There are more coming up, with the next event taking place at the Kings Head in Birdwood on 18 August between 3pm-6:30pm.

The full list of events and venues for next week can be found below👇

Kings Head, Birdwood: 18 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Newent Community Pavillion: 19 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Tidenham Memorial Hall: 20 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Forest of Dean District Council Offices, Coleford: 26 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

It's important that we hear from as many people as possible to help determine the best option to move forward with the Forest of Dean Local Plan.

You can also have your say online👇
https://www.fdean.gov.uk/localplanoptions

12/08/2025

THE ASTON PROJECT
There is a wealth of information available about the axing of this valuable project to support those young people who are vulnerable to being by Gloucestershire Police Constabulary and for those who want to follow how Gloucestershire County Council is seeking to continue its legacy in some form, please use the links below:

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/eternal-gratitude-ethos-aston-project-10386526

11/08/2025

Our in-person Local Plan community events start next week, with the first taking place at Corse & Staunton Village Hall on Tuesday 12 August.

We'll be at venues across the Forest over the next few weeks and this will give you the opportunity to look at the Local Plan Options proposed and to talk to officers and staff from the Council about the process and the key milestones.

It's important that we hear from as many people as possible to help determine the best option to move forward with the Forest of Dean Local Plan.

Have your say online👇
https://www.fdean.gov.uk/localplanoptions

Or, come along to one of our events and find out more on the process, before submitting your views. We'll be at the following venues across August👇

Corse & Staunton Village Hall: 12 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Cinderford Miners Welfare Hall: 13 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Lydney Community Centre: 14 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Kings Head, Birdwood: 18 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Newent Community Pavillion: 19 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Tidenham Memorial Hall: 20 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

Forest of Dean District Council Offices, Coleford: 26 August - 3pm - 6:30pm

11/08/2025

Pointing in the wrong direction and leaning at a crazy angle, this is not a particularly dangerous problem on the verge in Golden Valley near Upleadon but still not fixed after I reported it some months ago via FixMyStreet. Tried again today. It's rare that something reported does not get fixed eventually to be honest. And if it is an emergency, the app will guide you to a phone number to report it immediately by phone. Deep potholes and malfunctioning traffic lights would fall under this category for instance.

If you spot something dangerous or that needs fixing on Gloucestershire's Highways and footpaths, from potholes to fly-tipping, street lights not working to abandoned roadworks signs, you can report it through FixMyStreet either via the website or app. Ir's easiest on your phone as you can upload pictures. Exact locations can be given using What3words as well as using a map location.

Don't assume somebody else will do it. They might be thinking the same way!

10/08/2025

THE ASTON PROJECT

There is a wealth of information available online about this highly-rated project which was axed by Gloucestershire Police Constabulary and which Lib-Dem led Gloucestershire County Council is committed to continue to support in some other form as a legacy to Lynn Aston,

The project was designed to help steer vulnerable young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour and had support centres in Newent and Cheltenham.

Here are three of the links:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj425087v5po

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/fears-axing-police-project-named-10118161

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg1gmmn82zo

Gloucestershire Police needs to save £12.3m and has to make "difficult decisions".

10/08/2025

SAFER STREETS INITIATIVE

Now that the Lib Dems are in charge at Gloucestershire County Council, residents can expect a very different attitude towards supporting the introduction of speed limits of 20mph where communities have decided they want them and it safe to do so.

The previous Conservative administration was not in favour (with very rare exceptions) of these reduced speed limits.

When I was first elected to the County Council in 2021, prompted by Dymock Parish Council's request for these limits, the Liberal Democrats, then the major opposition party, put forward a council motion at my suggestion to bring in 20mph limits where communities wanted them. It was voted down by the majority Tory councillors.

Cllr Roger Wyborn (Lib Dem), now Cabinet member for Highways Safety, was also extremely keen to see these limits introduced and we both attended a 20's Plenty conference in Oxford where we heard more about how these limits have a significant effect on reducing injuries and making streets feel safer for pedestrians and other drivers.

It will take some time to roll out these safety measures. They need a Traffic Regulation Order which is both time-consuming and expensive but we are committed to jnttiducung these speed limits where communities want them along with reductions in, and introductions of new speed limits across the county. Gloucestershire has one of the worst records in the country for KSI (Killed and Seriously Injured) statistics.

But it's not just about KSI's. We want people to feel safer to walk and cycle along our roads. Where pavements are narrow or non-existent and HGVs thunder past and cars exceed the present limits, people just don't feel safe using the roads. We want to change that.

So if you think that your area would benefit from lower enforceable speed limits, please make sure that your parish or town council has responded to the invitation to express interest in taking part in this initiative if you think your area needs these safety measures.
You will find a huge amount of information in the link. https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/road-initiatives/

For those who are aware of the roll-out in Wales of 20mph limits, let me say that we are not taking that blanket coverage approach. A few (yes, only a few) of the Welsh speed limits have been returned to their previous status, but generally they have significantly reduced accidents. These statistics don't lie. That is why we are calling our project the 'Community 20s and Safer Roads Initiative.' The emphasis is on the community and without its formal support, they will not go ahead.

So if this , matters to you, do check with your local parish/town council whether a response has been made. The current invitation to express interest is open until early September with an extension to allow for parish council meetings which happen later in the month,.

09/08/2025

THE ROBIN BOOKABLE BUS SERVICE

Have you seen the new Robin bus service around in this corner of North-West Gloucestershire?

This service has been running for some time in other areas of Gloucestershire and started here in June.. It has already established itself as a popular service in the middle and southern parts of the Forest of Dean District. The Newent area has had to wait a bit longer, but we have had the advantage of the Daffodil Line service, no 232, which connects some our rural villages with the three towns of Ross, Ledbury and Newent.

The Robin service is designed to be responsive to the travel needs of people who live in the more rural areas of the county who would otherwise find it difficult to use public transport. It is designed to connect up to timetabled bus services and to get passengers from one recognised stop to another.

The list of stops is very extensive. It includes all the usual bus stops including those used by Newent Community Transport and school transport services and has added others such as local landmarks. It is bookable by phone, app or online but is not a taxi service to and from your door.

Running from 7am until 7pm Monday to Saturday, it can accommodate one wheelchair. Fares are set in line with standard bus travel and bus passes can be used as well.

The area covered by the Newent service aligns with the Herefordshire/Worcestershire border (but does not cross it unfortunately) and the A417 but also runs south of the A40 as far as Mitcheldean. For more details please visit: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/transport/the-robin/

Unfortunately the list of Newent area stops on the website is a little confusing. There are about 12 'School' locations where there are clearly no schools.. These are recognised school transport stops and I have asked the Gloucestershire County Council officer in charge of the Transport Unit for this to be sorted out. The leaflet which advertises the service is also not of the standard I would expect. The map is very hard to read and there is a lot of information missing on the one-sided leaflet. I am waiting for a promised better version.

Despite these minor irritations, the Robin promises to be of great benefit to local residents who need better transport to get to doctor's appointments, go shopping, see friends or just get out for a visit to somewhere different. Some passengers are using it regularly to get to school, college and work.

Newent town has many areas poorly served by public transport such as Culver Street, Foley Rd, Onslow and Meek Roads. The Robin will serve these areas.

Booking is available from one hour to two weeks ahead. No guarantee that the perfect slot will be available but give it try! It is funded until next year for sure and after that it will depend on further government funding. A service like this is never going to be commercially viable, but even a subsidised route needs to used by enough passengers for it to continue.