I FOUND last week's headline story to be not only misleading but most of the so-called 'facts' to be simply untrue.

Sheep are allowed to roam within the statutory Forest of Dean which is by no means the whole of the Forest area. For example, St Briavels, Coleford, Littledean, Mitcheldean, most of Cinderford and many other areas are outside the statutory Dean so sheep are excluded.

Mr Holder says that 'all of Bream' is within the statutory area. As a Bream resident, I know this to be untrue. The Forestry Commission and local council have detailed maps which clearly show that the boundary goes through Bream village. I have always known this fact and thought that it was common knowledge.

I can illustrate this by saying that myself and neighbours have been told by the Forestry Commission that the part of Bream in which we live is just inside the statutory boundary so there was nothing we can do about the large flocks of sheep which have for many years regularly appeared outside our homes.

The interesting point is that they also said that the sheep owner, although a Bream resident, lived just outside the boundary. Consequently, he has never been bothered by his own sheep and could leave his gate wide open all day without worry. I have always found it funny that Bream cricket clubhouse is inside the boundary but Bream rugby clubhouse is outside the boundary. Despite all the past reassurances from Mr Holder, the 2001 sheep agreement, court case and the most recent agreement, there are at present more sheep in Bream than I have ever seen in my lifetime.

Mr Holder says that 'the grazing rights were long established and incontestable.' This also is untrue. The local council and the Forestry Commission will confirm that there are no legal rights regarding sheep grazing which can be proved at law. Sheep are allowed to roam in specified areas as a custom, not as a legal right.

They also say that there has never been any legally enforceable rights of common for sheep since they are not commonable animals. Those animals which have been given grazing/foraging rights are specifically named in historical documents but these documents do not mention sheep. If evidence to the contrary had ever come to light, we would most certainly have heard of it.

Please let us have the historical facts as they are, not what the sheep owners would like them to be. – Paul Brain.