I HAVE previously stated my opposition to local government being partitioned into the camps of national parties.  I have always maintained that local issues take precedence over national party politics and all local councillors should be independent for that reason.

At least with the prospect of a hung parliament, and likewise locally, there is the prospect of a more democratic period before us with more attention being paid to what the electorate wants and a better protection of our lovely environment. 

In the past when Labour was dominant, there was a distinct pledge by some councillors to urbanise the district.

Indeed there has been a more than doubling of the population over the last generation and the vast majority of this is by inward migration.  Such a policy is detrimental and damaging to any rural society which has a valued landscape.

Similarly, the Conservative central government more recently plied us with the prospect of 'localism' and control over our local development but then covertly made it ineffectual through loopholes in a pro-development National Planning Policy Framework document.  It also still left power over the decision making in the hands of unsympathetic appeal inspectors. 

This has led to some unplanned, unwanted and potentially damaging developments in our precious environment.

We have a number of smaller parties, apart from a few 'independents' (?), who are shy on policy, if not on experience, but that becomes less important at a local level if adherence to local concerns takes precedence.

So we have a real local dilemma as to who we can trust at the end of the day.  Can either of the two main parties be trusted? 

The 'follow my party leader' attitude to voting has certainly not helped in coming to rational, democratic decisions.  The 'Cabinet' system has also shown itself to be decidedly undemocratic and yet this was held on to by the outgoing administration creating much frustration to the full council and public alike.

Whichever way you vote let us hope that the next council is one made up of people that will listen and be prepared to be better informed and take decisions on local issues independently and rationally.

– Walt Williams, Coleford.