I MAKE no apology to Mr Blake that my tongue-in-cheek letter regarding the Lydney Town Council (LTC) quarterly newsletter did not appeal to his sense of humour.

However, I would like to thank Mr Blake for highlighting the problem which is now an agenda item for the September LTC meeting where it will be debated in full and democratically accurate minutes will then be available for all to read.

In the meantime, for those residents who require a copy of the most recent newsletter, ‘spares’ are held in the town council offices.

Sadly, I don’t believe that the newsletter issue alone is Mr Blake’s only grievance with Lydney Town Council.

As there are three vacant seats on LTC at present, perhaps Mr Blake would consider putting his name forward – after all he has all of circa three months of LTC experience from a few years back.

LTC needs positive, progressive town councillors. What is not needed are assumptive, narrow-minded control freaks with personal agendas who ‘take their ball home’ when things do not go to their liking and realisation strikes that the world cannot be changed overnight.

Mr Blake did appeal to my sense of humour if he thinks that I am controlled and “have to act under extreme governance.” Really?

Finally, the lasting reminder of summer 2016 for me has been the mis-conceived assumption/conclusion and the inability of some who only want to hear – despite irrevocable fact – what they want to hear.

At least you took note of my ‘pathetic drivel’ Mr Blake.

Keep smiling.

– Cllr Alan Preest, Lydney.