As always Graham Morgan has written a passionate defence about his desire for the development of the 'Northern Quarter' near Steam Mills. Now I must admit that I do enjoy reading Graham's letters, they certainly add spice to any debate that he is involved in and I am glad that he can see that "everyone is entitled to a point of view" and that he has "no issue with this, just so long as the points being put over are correct."

Great! We can all agree with that; but 'ang on a bit ol' butties, he then goes on to claim that the "Forest of Dean College was ripped out of our town (Cinderford) and placed in the middle of a wood at Five Acres."

Well, it wasn't quite as dramatic a move as the "ripped out" one you so fiercely complain about, Graham. So to balance it up a bit and to refresh memories, I would like to present the actual facts about the College's movements in its historical context.

1925: The Forest of Dean Mining School was built next to East Dean Secondary (Grammar) School in Station Street, Cinderford.

1937: It became the Forest of Dean Mining and Technical School and then in 1953 the Forest of Dean Technical College, after mining was dropped from the curriculum.

1966: The College was amalgamated with Lydney Art School on two sites and called the West Gloucestershire College of Further Education.

1968: East Dean Grammar School and Bells Grammar School, Coleford were amalgamated to become the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School on a site of 18.72 acres at Five Acres next to the A4136. Double View Secondary School and the FE College remained at Cinderford.

 1970: The Lydney Art School site was closed and its courses transferred to Cinderford.

1985: Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School was transformed into the ROFD College of Further Education and three Secondary schools in Cinderford, Berry Hill and Mitcheldean were turned into all-ability 11-16 years comprehensives. The Cinderford FE College site remained open.

1989: Whitecross School 6th Form transferred to the FE College at Five Acres.

1992: The College site at Cinderford was used for Technical and Employment training schemes. Schools, libraries and community centres throughout the West Gloucestershire catchment area were bases for a great variety of other part-time courses. There were 5,000 full and part-time students enrolled on these courses throughout the area.

After several more years the Cinderford site eventually closed due to  falling roles of courses there and a housing estate was built on it by a respected local builder.

So, not so much 'ripped out' then, as steadily transformed over a period of 86 years.

The present College/ Leisure Centre, now a mere 25 years old, has a lot of empty space available for extra development  and it will cost the taxpayer very little to upgrade compared with a multi-million pound new-build near Steam Mills. Simple commonsense really.  

It was good to see that the Principal of the Gloucestershire College, Dr. Greg Smith, is concerned with "creating an outstanding college at Five Acres." The views of the vast majority of local people will echo that.

Since my retirement from teaching, it's been my privilege and pleasure to visit Lakers on a voluntary basis to give talks to the pupils on local history in the History Department and to be involved in various activities in the Art Dept.

These two departments, along with their brilliant staff, are among the very best that I have ever been in.

This has also given me the opportunity to observe the everyday life of Lakers School, which has the spirit of a successful school ably serving its community; after all, its roots have been burrowed deep into Forest soil for over a century.

The facilities are of an extremely high level and are being upgraded continuously. There is a positive buzz about the school, with all age and ability groups catered for equally and to a high standard.

This is most hearten­ing for a person such as myself, who has always been a firm believer in the comprehensive concept of education. I would certainly recommend this school, as it is today, to any prospective parent and my personal attitude will be to treat any hint that the school could be moved or diminished in any way, with the contempt it deserves.

Finally, may I say that I have never been against a nice, new, shiny road by-passing Steam Mills. It's just its actual route and the baggage that goes with it that concerns me.

–  John Belcher, Joyford Hill.