GOING for a walk in the wood on a nice, sunny afternoon we came across a clearing.

In this clearing was a building and at first look I thought Hansel and Gretel had set up home in the fairytale land locally known as the Northern Quarter.

On closer inspection it was a Forest of Dean District Council dedicated bat roost, not just any old bat roost but the Hilton of bat roosts and walking on there was another.

These buildings must have cost £20,000, £30,000, £40,000 – who knows?

To most Council Tax payers the Northern Quarter is a lot of people's opinions and arguments through newspaper columns.

They should take 10 minutes of their time and see where their money is being wasted.

Go and have a walk around the two or three miles of fencing that has been on hire for at least a year.

This money and the Coal Board money should have been put to better use such as bringing our town centres up to today's needs and helping the Forest to come out of the 20th century.

– Kelvin Burt, Berry Hill.