THIS is a response to the article ‘Sheep ban excessive – claim’ in last week’s Review.

The Forest of Dean District Council supports the tradition of free-roaming sheep within the district and accepts that the vast majority of sheep owners are responsible. 

However, following continuing complaints regarding the irresponsible shepherding of sheep the council undertook a full scrutiny inquiry.

The recommendations from that inquiry include undertaking a public consultation for a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Bream.

The consultation is not seeking to ban sheep but aims to achieve more

constructive partnership working between all parties to tackle effectively any problems arising from irresponsible shepherding and also to increase understanding of the traditions of appropriate sheep grazing within the Forest of Dean.

All the responses to the consultation will be analysed and a report will be prepared. 

The report will be presented to full council in October when a decision on whether to implement a PSPO will be made.

– Cllr Roger James, Chair, Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Forest of Dean District Council.