This drone footage was shot by Mr Adie Cooke of Lydney. No further information is available at present Comments Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Home > News By Simon Hacker | 11th April 2025 It's been hailed as the vertical "snack stack" approach to growing salad and herbs which will revolutionise farming – and the Forest of Dean stood at the forefront of this smart agritech revolution when it welcomed the arrival of key player Jones Food Company (JFC) in February last year set up what became the world's biggest layered production plant at Lydney A search now begins for an investor to rescue the firm As revealed by trade publication Fruitnet.com some 61 staff have been made redundant while a core team of 11 remains at the site reported to have been built at a cost of £25m to maintain it while administrators and interested parties consider options RSM administrator Damian Webb said: "The company has built a state-of-the-art vertical farming facility with a highly skilled workforce," adding that there was a significant opportunity for a purchaser to build on investment to date by taking the business forward." and has been regarded as being in the vanguard of controlled-environment agriculture As reported in Punchline-Gloucester.com in February last year Scunthorpe-based JFC said it believed it had "cracked the code" when it opened JFC2 at Lydney the factory's exclusive reliance on sustainable energy covering the year to the end of April 2023 offer a glimpse of the precarious nature of this formative agrisector The accounts state: "The Company operates in an industry where the business model for generating economic returns is yet to be proven and external funding will be required for the Company to fulfil its full potential £25m was raised from new and existing shareholders in April 2021 for the construction of a second vertical farm in Lydney and to cover expected operating losses until that facility was profitable." Reviews by the company had identified the need for more funding to support its plans for 2023 and 2024 which included £4.5m of asset-related finance secured against the assets of both sites at Scunthorpe and Lydney The report added that the company's major shareholder invested a further £3.65m through the exercise of warrants in April 2023 adding that JFC had received a letter of financial support from Ocado Group ple indicating its willingness to continue support Swapping open fields and polytunnels for a layering system where food is grown in laboratory controlled conditions – and thereby banishing the risk of pests and uncontrollable weather – the process which is also known as urban farming has been heralded by agribusiness as a potential haven for investors who might otherwise be spooked by traditional farming's notorious unpredictability the average weekly UK shop includes produce sourced this way yields more than 1,000 tonnes of food per year Bowery Farming delivers fresh veg to more than 1,100 stores US firm AeroFarms has blazed a business trail by taking over ex-industrial areas and attracting billions in funding for stacked food production – not least by proving that the controlled nature of the business minimises use of pesticides and water consumption Close to JFC's Bristol trial and development centre Japanese spinach and baby leaf cress.  it boasted a boost to yield against standard farming of 17 times Subsequently surpassed by a similar plant in Dubai the site's footprint made it the world's biggest such site in 2024: at 148,000 sq ft Forest of Dean Labour MP Matt Bishop visited the plant and celebrated its economic value for the district noting the plant's capacity to deliver more than 1,000 tonnes of food annually But with growing conditions at Lydney set to a constant 26C and 75% humidity does it now look like the prospects for vertical farming have been overcooked In an interview last year with the Guardian newspaper JLC boss James Lloyd-Jones warned of the risks during the business's salad days.  he said JLC was never awash with cash or much help amid a marketplace made challenging by "very high food standards" He added that meant selling at a price that is "quite low" which forced the firm to become a lot sharper in how it develops product ranges and pricing "I do believe that technology will provide food security in the future But you need to start somewhere ...what we are doing now is creating supply security." as a major shareholder in JFC,  said its investors have been informed of the decision which was taken by the board of JFC and its leadership team 'Another shining jewel for visitors to see in Gloucester' John Fisher is recognised for his exceptional leadership and contribution to the technology industry Watchdogs' tracker nudges down in wake of Trump's tarrifs The recipients of The King’s Awards for Enterprise have been announced today (May 6) Reproduction of any content is strictly forbidden without prior permission We use cookies to help make our website better. For more information on cookies and how to block them, visit https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/online/cookies/ We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports the improvement works have included the refurbishment of the outer sea gates and desilting works which enable the safe passage of boats in the harbour The next stage of the project focuses on the piers The Environment Agency plans to replace the current temporary green mesh fencing with new pedestrian fencing similar to that what has been installed elsewhere on the site This will allow improved access to more of the piers Work to repair the site surfacing and restore harbour fixtures to improve access for Lydney Yacht Club will also take place The Environment Agency will be consulting the Forest of Dean Council and Historic England to agree the design and obtain the required permissions before works take place The exact positioning of the fencing will be determined once it has obtained Scheduled Monument Consent  Construction is expected to start in Spring 2026 the Environment Agency will also install additional pontoons to improve access for boat owners in the inner harbour It will also introduce new signage to keep the public informed and undertake repair works on one of the bridges The Environment Agency met the Harbour’s Community Leaders’ Group on 27 January to provide an update and to discuss the forthcoming work I’d like to thank the Community Leaders’ Group and the public for their patience and continuing interest in the future of Lydney Harbour We fully appreciate how important Lydney Harbour is to all those who use and visit it Our main objective remains to establish a facility that not only meets the existing health and safety standards but also brings a sustainable and prosperous future We have been working closely with Historic England throughout the whole process and will continue to do so A dedicated email inbox has also been set up for any questions the public might have. The address is Lydney-harbour@environment-agency.gov.uk The Environment Agency is the landowner and harbour authority of Lydney Harbour and has a duty of care to protect the public from harm Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Police have rescued a dog from an address in Lydney following reports that her owner was causing animal suffering. Officers received an emergency call last Friday (April 18) reporting that a man had been seen beating his English Bull Terrier cross, in the town centre. The man was identified along with further similar reports which suggested to police that this was not the first time the dog had been beaten. A welfare check was made on the dog and she has now been taken away by the Dog Section for her safeguarding. No arrests have been made but police continue to investigate, working closely alongside the RSPCA. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 369. Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us Further Links PLANS to revamp Lydney Skatepark have taken a major step forward after the project was granted permitted development status. Lydney Town Council announced the news this week that the scheme can now move into the fundraising phase. Councillor Steve Cave, who is leading the initiative on behalf of the Lydney Recreation Trust, has called on members of the public to get involved by offering their time to help with fundraising and admin. He said: “We have a very exciting update on the Lydney Skatepark Revamp Project! Permitted development has been granted, based on this amazing design by Maverick. “We are now in a position to move into the final stage, which is fundraising. However, this is not something we can do entirely by ourselves.” Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us A Gloucestershire mental health charity, Listening Post, urgently requires a quiet room in Lydney to maintain its affordable, long-term counselling services. A GLOUCESTERSHIRE mental health charity is calling on the people of Lydney to help keep its life-changing counselling service going — by offering something as simple as a quiet room. Listening Post, a well-established charity providing affordable, long-term counselling across the county, recently expanded its services into the Forest of Dean, including Lydney, Coleford and Cinderford. The move followed a successful pilot that brought much-needed support to adults facing issues such as anxiety, depression, bereavement and trauma. But the charity is now facing an unexpected funding gap — and without urgent help from the local community, its ability to continue delivering the service in Lydney could be in jeopardy. Nicola Bird of Listening Post has issued a heartfelt appeal for support. She said: “I’m reaching out for help as patron of Listening Post, a local charity providing life-changing mental health support across Gloucestershire.” “Listening Post offers long-term, affordable counselling for adults struggling with anxiety, depression, bereavement, trauma and more — with no time limits and a truly person-centred, non-judgemental approach.” “They’re facing unexpected costs for hiring a small, private space in Lydney – something that wasn’t included in their original funding. Without it, this crucial service could be at risk for people who desperately need it.” Listening Post is now searching for a quiet, confidential room in Lydney that can be offered for just a few hours a week. It could be within a business, community centre, church or private home — anywhere that provides a safe and discreet environment for one-to-one counselling. The charity's work is especially important in the Forest of Dean, where access to long-term mental health support can be limited. Their non-judgemental, open-ended approach offers a rare opportunity for people to receive the support they need, for as long as they need it. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us The family of a man who died following a collision in Lydney earlier this month have paid tribute describing him as someone who “lit up the room and made you smile” Emergency services were called to Highfield Road at the junction with Centurion Road at around 9.35pm on Friday March 14 following a report of a collision involving a pedestrian and a car Despite the best efforts of police officers and paramedics Stephen's family have now issued a tribute to him saying: “Steve was a kind “He was loved by all and he had a dry sense of humour that was often very subtle He could always light up the room and make you smile a lot of people; no journey or trip was complete without him bumping into someone or chatting to someone he knew “Steve had many interests; his love for horse racing was legendary and the railway was his life for nearly 40 years “Steve will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.” a woman in her 30s from Lydney was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and driving when over the limit for drugs She was later released under investigation Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Team would like to hear from anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage or any information they feel may be relevant Information can be provided to police online by completing this form on the Gloucestershire Police, www.gloucestershire.police.uk and quoting incident 543 of March 14. Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us The Princess Royal also visited the innovative “vertical farm” of the Jones Food Co on the outskirts of the town and joined in the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Camphill Village Trust at Taurus Crafts which marks its 30th year. The visit began in Newerne Street where Her Royal Highness spoke with owners and workers of businesses that were left several feet underwater by the flooding. She was also briefed about the repair works to the Newerne Street bridge which was breached by storm water from the River Lyd and still remains partially closed. She also spoke to emergency service workers with firefighters from Lydney fire station who told her about how they assisted people who had been flooded in a shift which lasted some 18 hours. HRH The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque commemorating the floods which hit Lydney in 2024. The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque to commemorate the flooding of Sunday, November 24 and her visit which will be attached to the bridge. Mayor of Lydney Cllr Natasha Saunders thanked her for coming “to see the devastation from Storm Bert and the community resilience that’s helped rebuild our town.” The Princess Royal said: “This was a very specific area having withstood an awful lot of water in the past. “Your response was quite extraordinary and I hope people will learn the right lessons and give you the help you really need. “There’s no doubt that the very distinct place Lydney is had its advantages in your ability to cope. “It really impressive to see that response and I very much hope you won’t have to go through that experience again.” Her Royal Highness then went to meet residents of the Lakeside area which was badly hit by the November flood. Among those she met was Mrs Carol Pritchard whose house in Lakeside Avenue was flooded for the seventh time in 16 years. Mrs Pritchard showed the princess around the ground floor of her home which remains uninhabitable. The 82-year-old currently lives in a caravan on the drive, returning to the house to sleep. She said November’s flood – the third in 14 months – was the worst-ever with water reaching the height of the letterbox. Despite having floodproof doors and two pumps – which both did the job they were supposed to – the ground floor was remained underwater until the following day. She initially decided to stay in the bedroom but after hearing “lots of creaking” she was rescued by the fire service. Ongoing repairs include new floors, a new kitchen and walls being completely replastered. Mrs Pritchard hopes to be able to return home in May but remains fearful that she will be flooded out again. “I was surprised what a nice conversation I could have with her, she was really shocked. “Hopefully this will do some good – I’m just hoping and praying it does because you can’t keep living like this. “I’m absolutely positive I’ll get my house back together and it’ll happen again and it’ll keep happening until somebody does something about it. “I’m 82 next month, I don’t want to live like this.” The Princess was then given a tour of the Jones Food Company vertical farm at the former Federal Mogul site at Tutnalls. The company grows salad vegetables indoors under carefully controlled conditions which uses far fewer resources than traditional farming. For the final leg of the visit, Her Royal Highness travelled to Taurus Crafts near Aylburton – where she was greeted by a choir from Lydney Church of England Primary School. After being shown some of the workshops used by artisan makers, she joined the Camphill Village Trust which its celebrating 70 years of helping people with learning disabilities and other needs. The Royal visit also marked 30 years of the Taurus Crafts visitor centre which is part of the Trust which also supports adults with autism, mental health problems and complex needs. The Princess unveiled a plaque and cut a cake and was presented with a food hamper. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us FOREST of Dean Police reminded residents of the importance of correct car tax and insurance following a vehicle seizure in Lydney on Wednesday (April 23) PCSO Ravenhill and PCSO Gazzard were patrolling on foot in Lydney when they came across a vehicle parked on the highway which showed to be untaxed since August 2024 A police spokesperson said: “The vehicle has now been recovered and the owner will have to pay the back tax and a fine from the DVLA “This is a reminder that if you don't have tax or insurance on your vehicles then your vehicle will be seized if it's on the highway.” You can check if your vehicle is taxed by visiting the Gov.uk website. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us THE NEWERNE Street Bridge in Lydney has suffered significant damage after a vehicle reportedly ignored road-closed signs and barriers, crashing into the structure. The bridge had been closed since November 24 due to severe flooding that raised concerns about its stability, with local authorities fearing potential collapse. Despite these precautions, the vehicle struck the bridge at its weakest point—compounding the existing damage caused by the flooding. Mayor, Councillor Natasha Saunders, shared her distress over the incident: “Arriving at work this morning, I was devastated to receive the call that the bridge was struck overnight by a driver who appears to have ignored all the road notices. Tragically, the vehicle hit the weakest part of the bridge—the very section we saw water pouring through last Sunday.” She continued, expressing her frustration over the community’s efforts to protect the bridge: “It is heartbreaking to see that all the tireless efforts from our community to protect the bridge have been in vain. I understand the driver remains in hospital, and the police will be thoroughly investigating the incident.” The crash has intensified the challenges faced by the town, which had already been dealing with the effects of the flooding and the bridge closure. “My deepest concern now is for the businesses in our town, which were already grappling with the effects of flooding and the closure of the bridge. This incident will undoubtedly prolong the disruption far beyond what we initially feared,” the mayor added. Local residents have also expressed their frustration. One said: “Heard this happen last night from my window. Could hear them driving like an idiot just before the bang.” Gloucestershire Highways is assessing the damage, and residents are encouraged to contact their helpline at 08000 514 514 with any concerns. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Lydney Exchange, backed by Forest of Dean District Council, urges local support to continue offering free pre-loved items. Volunteers need funds for essential storage solutions. A VOLUNTEER-LED community project in Lydney is calling for support to help secure its future. The Lydney Exchange, which is backed by Forest of Dean District Council, redistributes donated pre-loved items such as clothing, books, toys and household goods completely free of charge. The project is about more than simply giving things away. It also helps reduce waste, encourages reuse, and brings people together through regular events held throughout the year. Volunteers behind the initiative say their only ongoing cost is a storage container – essential for safely storing donations between events. But despite efforts, they have been unable to secure sponsorship for the year ahead. A GoFundMe has now been set up in the hope of raising enough money to keep the Exchange going. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Eight months after being damaged by flooding and a crash, Lydney's Newerne Street Bridge will finally undergo repairs starting July 28, lasting until August 15, with traffic operating under temporary signals. EIGHT months after Lydney’s Newerne Street Bridge was battered by floodwaters and further damaged in a car crash, repair work is finally set to begin this summer. The bridge, which crosses the River Lyd just a short walk from the town centre, was left in a fragile state after Storm Bert hit in November 2024. Torrential rainfall caused the river to burst its banks, with floodwaters weakening the stone structure. Then in December, before the council could carry out a full assessment, a vehicle collided with the bridge, hitting the already-compromised parapet and causing even more damage. The route was shut completely from Friday, November 24, cutting off a key link between Newerne Street and Hams Road. Since January, only a single lane has been in operation, controlled by temporary traffic lights. Now, Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed that long-awaited repairs will begin on July 28 and are expected to last until August 15. The road will remain open throughout the works but continue to operate under temporary two-way signals. A structural inspection carried out in December found one of the parapets had cracked down to the arch below and had to be carefully dismantled before engineers could conduct a diving inspection of the bridge’s underside. That dive, carried out in January, confirmed that the core of the structure was safe for traffic to resume using it, but only under controlled conditions. In a March update, the council said the design for the repair scheme was nearing completion and was awaiting final approval from the Environment Agency before work could be scheduled. The council has not confirmed whether there will be any further closures later in the year, but for now, the town is being reassured that the end of the disruption is in sight. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd. | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Princess Royal was left “shocked” by the devastation caused to homes by Storm Bert Anne visited the town of Lydney, in the Forest of Dean which saw around 50 properties flooded in November 2024 where a number of shops and businesses are still boarded up due to damage Anne braved heavy rain to walk half a mile to meet residents in Lakeside Avenue told the 74-year-old princess how she is living in a caravan on her drive due to damage to her house She described being flooded seven times since January 2008 with Storm Bert causing the most devastation – leaving 3ft of water in the downstairs of her home Mrs Pritchard asked Anne – holding a black umbrella – to come into her home to see the impact Mrs Pritchard said: “I wanted to show her exactly what I am up against She was saying: ‘How can you live in this?’ Mrs Pritchard said she had initially been living in temporary accommodation following the floods But the properties were booked for Christmas meaning she had to buy the caravan to live in with her cocker spaniel dog Alfie “It’s estimated that I will be back in my home in around May,” she said During the visit to the Gloucestershire town centre, Anne spoke to members of the public on the high street. Anne navigated red road barriers at the town’s bridge, which partially collapsed in the storm and left the town centre temporarily closed. The princess was then shown repairs and building work at businesses including a dance studio, which was flooded. She joined a reception of emergency services and council workers in a room used for respite during Storm Bert. At the conclusion of her visit, Anne unveiled a plaque which will be placed on the bridge when repairs are completed. She gave a short speech in which she paid tribute to the community for their support of each other. “Your response has been quite extraordinary,” she said. “I hope that people will learn the right lessons and give you the help you so clearly need. “There is no doubt that the very distinct place that Lyndney is has its advantages in terms of your ability to cope.” Anne said she hoped the timing of her visit was acceptable, as it “didn’t seem appropriate” for her to come earlier, when people were busy dealing with the storm’s aftermath. She added: “May I say to all of you for pulling together so well, it is really impressive to see that response. “I very much hope you won’t have to go through that experience again.” WORK has been carried out by the Environment Agency to refurbish the outer sea gates at Lydney Harbour and to remove silt to enable safe passage for boats The Environment Agency will be consulting the Forest Council and Historic England to agree the design and obtain the required permissions The exact positioning of the fencing will be determined once Scheduled Monument Consent has been obtained Construction is expected to start next Spring additional pontoons will be installed to improve access for boat owners in the inner harbour there will be new signage to keep the public informed and repairs made to one of the bridges The Environment Agency met the Harbour’s Community Leaders’ Group on January 27 to provide an update and to discuss the forthcoming work the Environment Agency’s Place Manager for Gloucestershire said: “I’d like to thank the Community Leaders’ Group and the public for their patience and continuing interest in the future of Lydney Harbour “We fully appreciate how important Lydney Harbour is to all those who use and visit it “Our main objective remains to establish a facility that not only meets the existing health and safety standards but also brings a sustainable and prosperous future “A dedicated email inbox has also been set up for any questions from the public. The address is [email protected].” Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us LYDNEY Town Council has reminded residents of the dangers of disposable barbecues, following fire damage at Bathurst Park. Taking to social media, a spokesperson for the Council said: “Unfortunately, a BBQ recently burnt the grass in Bathurst Park, causing damage to this beautiful community space. “We want to remind everyone that open flames – including disposable BBQs – are extremely dangerous, especially near woodland areas. In dry conditions, it takes very little for a small flame to become a serious fire, risking not just the park, but the precious wildlife and conservation areas we are lucky to have.” The Council asked residents not to use barbecues in any conservation areas. It also asked everyone to respect local guidelines, and report fires immediately. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us TRAFFIC can safely resume using Lydney’s Newerne Street Bridge Gloucestershire Highways updated residents earlier today (January 17) about the bridge following Storm Bert’s devastation to the banks of the River Lyd Nine days later, a vehicle crashed into the bridge’s weakest point. A spokesperson said: “Following an assessment of the underside by divers, we are pleased to confirm that traffic can safely resume using the bridge. We are working to remove the existing road closure. “This repair is now a straightforward parapet reconstruction. Our engineers have already begun the design work, and we have updated the Environment Agency. Once the design work is complete, the repairs will be scheduled.” Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 11:20 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure A chilly start but with plenty of clear skies bringing long spells of sunshine Cloud thickening from the west later in the afternoon but remaining dry for all with light winds Evening cloud gradually clears away leaving a dry night with clear spells Wednesday brings a mixture of sunny spells and cloudy skies A few spots of rain may be felt in the far southwest Widely dry and settled with high pressure dominating this week Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average By Sarah Wood | 10th October 2024 Plans for an eel farm in Lydney have been approved by Forest of Dean District Council Severn & Wye Smokery Ltd applied to the council for a big expansion to its business which has a £50m turnover and employs 240 people The council's Development Management Committee has given the go-ahead for an eel farm for both human consumption and conservation The plans for Pine End Works on land to the north of Harbour Road near Lydney Harbour also include a fish processing building The company said the multi-million-pound investment in the site will secure the long-term future of Severn & Wye Smokery in the district Having the plans approved means it will be able to close the Grimsby Salisbury and Walmore Hill sites and consolidate the business It plans to relocate the fish processing and headquarters from Chaxhill to Lydney and keep the Chaxhill site for the barn/ restaurant /shop and the smokery buildings for non-fish products food and drink and education in the proposals the business intends to make the site a tourist destination in its own right which will support the council's aims for the regeneration of Lydney Harbourside Phase 1 of the development will create 240 permanent jobs on site It will be the catalyst for refocusing of Chaxhill into meat and dairy production with a potential for a further 85 to 95 jobs This will be a major construction project providing immediate economic benefit to the local area both directly and indirectly The eel farm is part of phase 2 of the development Severn & Wye Smokery does not currently farm eel 80% of the eels grown in the farm will be for consumption Phase 2 of the development will support 400 fishermen along the length of the River Severn The plans were originally due to go before the committee on August 13 but were delayed until October 8 due to the submission of late material HER Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Lydney on Wednesday February 26, to meet with victims of the devastating floods that occurred in November 2024, as a result of Storm Bert. Princess Anne met with residents, business owners, volunteers, and council representatives including Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, Cllr. Stephen Davies. The Princess Royal listened to their stories, offered words of encouragement, and praised the community's resilience and spirit in the face of adversity.The Princess also toured some of the affected areas, witnessing firsthand the extensive damage caused by the floods. A Lydney Town Council spokesperson said: “The visit underscores Her Royal Highness's commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis and highlighting the importance of collective efforts in rebuilding and recovery.” The 74-year-old was welcomed to the high street where a number of shops and businesses are still boarded up due to damage. She was shown repairs work at businesses and joined emergency services and council workers in a respite room used during Storm Bert. At the end of her visit, the princess unveiled a plaque which will be placed on the bridge when repairs are completed, but is currently held by Lydney Town Council. Speaking to the community, the Princess said: "Your response has been quite extraordinary. "I hope that people will learn the right lessons and give you the help you so clearly need. "There is no doubt that the very distinct place that Lydney is has its advantages in terms of your ability to cope." Princess Anne added she hoped the timing of her visit was acceptable, as it “didn’t seem appropriate” for her to come earlier, when people were busy dealing with the storm’s aftermath. The Princess Royal completed her admiration for the local community's efforts with praise for the ongoing clean-up and recovery operations. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Further Links THE SEVERN Rivers Trust is inviting families in the Forest of Dean to dive into the world of rivers and wildlife this Easter, as it brings a series of free educational workshops to Lydney Harbour. The independent environmental charity will be running its popular workshop programme at the harbour on Easter Monday, April 21, with follow-up sessions on April 22, 24 and 25. Each day will feature two workshops, one at 10AM and another at 1PM, offering children a hands-on opportunity to explore the wonders of the Severn catchment. Aimed at curious young minds and budding nature lovers, the workshops will include activities such as becoming an eco-detective, discovering local wildlife, and carrying out water-based experiments. The sessions are free to attend, but booking is essential via Eventbrite. The initiative forms part of the Trust’s ongoing mission to preserve and protect the rivers, streams and water bodies within the Severn catchment, while also raising public awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. Speaking ahead of the event, a spokesperson for the Severn Rivers Trust said: “We’re bringing the wonders of water to Lydney Harbour in Lydney with eight FREE family workshops over the Easter break!” Established as an independent charity, the Severn Rivers Trust works across the entire Severn catchment. From the Welsh mountains to the Bristol Channel the trust delivers a range of projects focused on river restoration, wildlife conservation, and community engagement. Its work in the Forest of Dean includes habitat restoration projects, water quality monitoring, and public outreach activities designed to connect people with their local environment. The Trust says Lydney Harbour, with its rich history and scenic location on the edge of the River Severn, offers an ideal backdrop for the workshops. The sessions are suitable for primary school-aged children, though all ages are welcome to attend with accompanying adults. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us PLANS for 80 homes on the edge of Lydney which prompted objections from hundreds of people have been dismissed by the Forest Council. Cirencester-based Lantar Developments been refused permission to develop the more than five acres of land near Grove Lane, Allston. The proposals are for half of the homes on the site to be affordable and vehicular access is proposed on Allaston Road with a pedestrian link onto Grove Lane. More than 380 people opposed the scheme along with Lydney Town Council. Objectors raised concerns that the scheme went against planning regulations, was in the open countryside, and would lead to a loss of open space. They also pointed out there are brownfield sites suitable for housing in the town and that Lydney has had more than its fair share of new homes. Resident Neil James, who spoke at the district council’s development management committee meeting on November 12. major concerns over the access to the town centre via Driffield Road and Allaston Road. “Driffield Road is narrow without adequate safe passing places,” he said. “This results in the inevitable confrontation of opposing vehicles which is particularly hazardous during the inclement weather conditions and during the hours of darkness.” Planning agent Matt Tyas urged the committee to support a recommendation from planning officials to approve the scheme. He said: “The application comes at a time when the council has a significant five year housing supply shortfall and a high level of affordable housing need in Lydney.” He said the mix of homes would include homes for first time buyers, bungalows and rented properties. He said people could travel from the site by walking and public transport. Ward councillor Harry Ives (Con, Lydney North) said the plans which he felt were in direct conflict with the council’s policies and the site is unsustainable. “This application is asking to build 80 houses in a location that is outside a settlement boundary, in the open countryside on land which is not allocated for housing.” He said it was extremely poorly served by public transport and was more than a mile from the town centre. Cllr Gill Moseley (Lib Dem, Newent and Taynton) echoed concerns over the lack of public transport she hoped demand would improve it. “I hope the capacity of the bus service will improve with the demand,” she said. She proposed approving the scheme in line with the officers’ recommendation. Cllr Jacob Sanders (Lab, Cinderford West) said not many homes would be approved in the Forest if they required a good standard of public transport. Cllr John Francis (Ind, Longhope and Huntley) said the committee was between a “rock and hard place” as the council is expected to allow more house building in the district. “It isn’t sustainable from a transport point of view,” he said. Cllr Simon Phelps (Ind, Westbury) said he had reservations but the council could not demonstrate the required five year housing land supply. He feared refusal would lead to an appeal against the decision from the developer. Chairman Dave Wheeler (Green, Newland and Sling) said it was not a sustainable location for houses. He said public transport links were “at least a bike’s ride away” and pointed out that getting back up the hill from the town centre is very difficult. “Traipsing up that hill is a very long slog,” he said. Cllr Burton proposed rejecting the scheme on gounds that concerns over the site’s unsustainability, flooding and lack of transport and outweighed the shortfall in housing. The committee voted to reject the proposals by eight votes to three. Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us Credit: BPM mediaA person has suffered serious injuries after a car crashed into an historic bridge in Gloucestershire People in Lydney woke up on the morning of Tuesday 3 December to find the Newerne Street Bridge had been partially demolished overnight A spokesperson for Gloucestershire Police said: "The bridge on Newerne Street was damaged during Storm Bert and is currently awaiting repair "Closures have been put in place by Highways Police were called to a report that a single vehicle had collided with the bridge at around 1am this morning (Tuesday 3 December) "One person was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol with serious injuries The driver has been identified and investigations are continuing "National Highways were informed of the collision so that a structural engineer could assess the damage to the bridge." Newerne Street already had a number of road closure signs and barriers in force which the driver is believed to have ignored before crashing into the bridge The local authority has confirmed the police and highways authorities are aware of the crash Large sections of the bridge are now crumbling away and barriers and police tape have been put up around the affected area Mayor 'devastated' to hear crash has made 'an already fragile situation much worse' Lydney Mayor Tasha Saunders said: “Arriving at work this morning I was devastated to receive the call that the bridge was struck overnight by a driver who appears to have ignored all the road notices the vehicle hit the weakest part of the bridge—the very section we saw water pouring through last Sunday "It is heartbreaking to see that all the tireless efforts from our community to protect the bridge have been in vain "My deepest concern now is for the businesses in our town which were already grappling with the effects of flooding and the closure of the bridge "While we were still awaiting the safety report for the bridge it is clear that this event has made an already fragile situation much worse Thank you for your understanding and patience as we work together to resolve this matter.” A statement from Lydney Town Council said: "A vehicle has ignored the road closed signs and the barriers on Newerne Street allegedly speeding into the Newerne Street Bridge "This has caused significant damage to the bridge in town We understand the concern this may cause for residents and visitors "Please rest assured that we have informed Gloucestershire Highways who are all aware of the situation."Should you have any further queries regarding the bridge please contact the Gloucestershire Highways helpline 08000 514 514." It’s suddenly springtime in the Forest, and we discovered a new place to enjoy a peaceful sunny afternoon in a rural setting, another gem in Greater Lydney. We have spent many afternoons at Lydney Harbour, enjoying the mighty Severn and all its varied moods from calm to angry. It is really a busy working harbour, not really rural, but it feels like it. Our new recreational haven is in Tutnalls, an exotically named rural area of Lydney. ‘Tutnalls’ and nearby ‘Naas’ seem to be Lydney’s own landscape place names. There are ongoing frustrations in driving through the centre of the town, with an unrepaired bridge still causing frustration to drivers, but Tutnalls lake is a little gem which we have for some reason overlooked in our expeditions around the Forest. From the town’s bus station you drive on until you run out of houses to pass by, and then end up by the lake, where there are ducks, geese, anglers, students from nearby Dean Academy returning from their studies, and visitors enjoying the early spring sunshine. One of the network of canals alongside the River Lyd ran through this area. They were developed in the 19th century for the barges which connected Forest coal mines to Lydney Docks for export. There are links through to St Mary’s church as well as to the Dean Academy, and the new Lydney by-pass runs to the south of the area. Trains from the Dean Forest Railway can sometimes be heard, but the acoustics of the area prevent traffic noises from the adjoining Lydney by-pass from disturbing the rural tranquillity of the park. But the site really does need an ice cream van (and a decent ref). Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsgloucestershirenewsMan dies in fatal collision in Lydney as woman arrested in connection with crashThe 58-year-old pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene Police have confirmed that a man has died following a fatal collision in Lydney on Friday evening (March 14th) Officers from Gloucestershire Police were alerted to an incident taking place on Highfield Road at around 9:35pm When responders arrived at the junction with Centurion Road they found that a car had collided with a pedestrian Emergency services were called to the scene including the ambulance service who tried to resuscitate the man the pedestrian - a man aged 58 - was pronounced dead at the scene Police arrested a woman in her 30s shortly afterwards on suspicion of death by careless driving and driving when over the limit for drugs police said that the woman remains in custody Highfield Road has reopened after being closed by the force and enquiries into the collision remain ongoing Gloucestershire Police are now appealing for information in relation to the incident asking anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101 and quoting incident reference number 543 on March 14th Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. A rugby club which was badly damaged by flooding caused by Storm Bert has said the response from people offering to help with the clean-up operation has been "incredible" was left completely underwater after the River Lyd burst its banks following torrential rain on Sunday 24 November Water several inches deep entered the clubhouse changing rooms and kitchen and also covered the pitches Chairman Duncan Sleeman said it is the third "devastating" flood to affect the club in the past four years "We had previously installed some flood defences to help protect the clubhouse but the severity of the weekend's storm meant the water rose above the defences," he said The club said a huge clean-up operation is underway and it has been "overwhelmed" by the number of people who have stepped in to try and get the club up and running again ahead of its match against Exmouth at the weekend "It brings a tear to your eye when you see people willing to come and help to get the club going again," Roger Pike Some of the people down there who've been mopping up the water are well into their 70s That's what is quite inspiring - when you see somebody of that age coming down to help." He added: "We've had all sorts of people contact us "The rugby club is the heart and soul of the town Everybody knows everybody and they just want to help." Mr Pike said he believes it will cost around £10,000 to repair the damage caused by the flooding adding it is "heartbreaking" for the club He said the club will then need to spend around £50,000 to try to protect it from future flooding "We cannot survive if we're not protected," he said "We're not cash-rich and we survive from year to year "It's going to take a big fundraising effort to try and protect ourselves from future flooding," he said A 41-YEAR-OLD Lydney woman has gone on trial for the attempted murder of her neighbour after breaking into the property and allegedly stabbing the victim four times with a large kitchen knife. At Gloucester Crown Court prosecutor Edd Hetherington explained that during the early hours of May 28, last year, Joanna Mammatt had forced an entry into her neighbour’s home in Lydney and had allegedly stabbed Hannah Gwynn, an off duty police officer, four times in her thigh. The defence has said it will ask the jury to return a special verdict of not guilty due to insanity. Mr Hethrington said this was an unusual and sad case and told the jury of nine men and three women, that the two neighbours had known each for around two years after Ms Gwynn had moved in during 2021. “But in the weeks before this incident Ms Gwynn noticed a decline in Ms Mammatt’s mental health in the brief neighbourly chats that they had been having,” said Mr Hethrington.  “Ms Mammatt began saying odd things and believed that Ms Gwynn had been placed next door that she and her partner could spy on her. “Ms Mammatt told Ms Gwynn that she knew that there were secret recording devices in her shed and that a shadowy group was trying to harm her.” Ms Gwynn became so concerned about her neighbour’s welfare that she reported that matter to relevant bodies as well as raising her concerns with her sergeant at work. The jury was told that Ms Gwynn did not consider Ms Mammatt to be a threat to others, but felt she needed some mental health support.  Ms Mammatt was subsequently visited by the police and social services who offered her support over the coming days. The prosecutor said: “Ms Gwynn was woken up at just before 4am on May 28, last year when she heard the noise of her front gate closing. She initially thought her partner was returning home early after working a late shift.  “But then she noticed that something was unusual as her dogs were acting oddly, and this motivated her to get out of bed and investigate. Ms Gwynn made her way downstairs and in complete darkness she saw a figure standing at the bottom of the stairs.  “Ms Mammatt then started screaming at Ms Gwynn telling her you have been trying to cause my family harm.  ‘You killed a doctor’ she said, and ‘You’ve been planning all of this’.  “It was at this point Ms Gwynn realised that Ms Mammatt had a knife in her hand and when she swung out at Ms Gwynn, who was two steps higher, Ms Mammatt allegedly stabbed her victim in the thigh. It was a deep wound.  “She pulls the knife back out and plunges it straight back into her thigh again. She allegedly repeated this stabbing gesture twice more.  “Ms Gwynn reacted by grabbing Ms Mammatt’s wrist and began screaming for help from any passer-by or another neighbour to call the police. She managed to wrestle Ms Mammatt down the hallway to the front door.  “Ms Gwynn was able to grab her front door keys, but then realised that Ms Mammatt had turned and was attempting to push the knife into Ms Gwynn stomach, but she was able to take evasive action and turn her away.  “It then appeared to Ms Gwynn that Ms Mammatt was then going to use the knife on herself. Ms Gwynn grabbed at the knife, slicing her finger in the process, and threw it as far as she could into her living room. She was also able to remove an orange life hammer from Ms Mammatt.  “Lizzy Powell, another neighbour, who had heard the commotion, and had called the police, was outside the property when Ms Gwynn was able to open the front door and evict Ms Mammatt.  “She grabbed her hair and pulled her down to the floor. Another neighbour Marion Balam also helped restrain Ms Mammatt. “Ms Gwynn’s initial instincts was to find her handcuffs, but when she realised that she was bleeding badly from her leg and the floor was covered in blood. She called her partner to immediately return home and called an ambulance. Ms Gwynn’s two other neighbours then assisted in first aid until the paramedics arrived.  The jury heard that Ms Mammatt had climbed in through a downstairs window having forced it open and when the police arrived at the scene, Ms Mammatt was outside her own home and had been spotted putting clothes into her bin. She told the officers she would come peacefully.  After her arrest Ms Mammatt told officers that she was glad she had done something that would eventually go to court, adding: “I need to tell people what’s happened. I didn’t want to have to do that.” The jury heard that a blackboard inside Ms Mammatt’s house had various statements on it, including, ‘If you profess to love God, why you killing her?’ and ‘If I die, life itself dies. I don’t want death to win’.  On scraps of paper Ms Mammatt had written, ‘Joanna is good, very very good. Hannah, next door, is evil, very evil’ and ‘I’m a friendly giant, she is cruel and must be destroyed’.  Another sheet of paper had another statement, ‘No evil allowed. Everything is private, including me. I turn Hannah off. She gets no enjoyment from hurting me’.  Mr Hethrington concluding by telling the jury that it was obvious that when Ms Mammatt tried to kill Ms Gwynn, she was suffering from a very significant mental illness at the time. However unusually in this case there could be an additional verdict that the jury could reach, aside from being guilty or not guilty, but not guilty by reason of insanity. Stephen Donnelly, defending, said: “The issues in this case revolve around the mental health issues of Ms Mammatt, which run parallel with the facts.  “In relation to the main charge, the defence case is the actions of Ms Mammatt did not amount to attempted murder of Ms Gwynn. The psychiatric evidence is such that the defence would invite the jury to return the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.  “Even if she did have a knife in her possession without good reason, the defence in light of psychiatric evidence, as this was part of her insanity.” Ms Mammatt, flanked by three mental health support workers in the dock, denied the attempted murder of Ms Gwynn on May 28, 2023 and possessing a knife in public, without good reason on the same occasion. Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us LYDNEY drafted in some experience from their United side for the testing trip to Regional One South West promotion hopefuls Exmouth, writes Roger Pike. Director of rugby Sam Arnott selected five front row players knowing the scrum was going to be crucial, Garrett Myers, Jack Knox and Rowan Mullis started with James Bayliss and Sam Baker replacements. With Pat Hanslow unavailable Luke Hudson moved into the second row with Kurt Brown joining the back row and Joe Hamlin starting at outside half. With some real pace in the pack and backs it was critical Lydney adopted a fast game plan but despite a good performance they came up short against a side who rarely lose at home. Lydney made an energetic start and immediately had the hosts under pressure, a superb break from Brad Dunn saw him tackled just short. More pressure saw them win a penalty in front of the posts. Opting to run a drive, Mike Massey was short but Kurt Brown was on hand to open the scoring at 0 -5. From the kick off, an Exmouth penalty was slotted for 3–5. Exmouth then camped in the Lydney half and another penalty followed made it 6-5. The hosts were dominant now but a lose pass saw an interception from Dunn who went the length of the pitch to score, Tom Broady added the conversion for 6-12. From a penalty line-out, Exmouth scored a try for11 – 12 and quickly scored again to take the lead 18-12. With the hosts winning numerous penalties, Lydney struggled to get any field position. Some poor defence saw the lead extended to 25 – 12 and James Bayliss received an unfortunate yellow as a result of Lydney’s scrum issues. Exmouth took advantage and scored to lead 30-12 at half-time. The home side soon rattled up three tries to pass the 50 mark at 51-12. Lydney needed two tries for a valuable bonus point in the fight against relegat minutes and showed their mettle with a solid final 20. Jack Knox was having a good game at hooker but was forced off with concussion. Frowen, Hudson, Mullis and Massey were again putting in a solid display. The experienced Kurt Brown put in a superb performance, along with Frowen winning some good tackles and turnover ball. The backs created a couple of great chances through Nelmes, Dunn, Large and Harrison but the defence held firm. Another attack saw the very impressive Scriven tackled just short but an offload to Ellis Deans-Smith would surely have seen a score. However, the forwards created a few good drives, and Sam Baker was on hand to power through the remaining defender to score for 51-17. With time running out Lydney pounded the hosts’ line with some great breaks from Large and Dunn who was dangerous every time he got the ball. Following a few forward drives, Broady span the ball out and winger Ethan Ellis-Smith got his first and well deserved try for Lydney to secure the bonus point and the match ended 51 -22. With two sides to be relegated, Lydney are eight points clear of the bottom three. Marlborough and Chew Valley their nearest challengers both lost so Lydney just need a win against bottom side Ivybridge in two weeks’ time to secure safety. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Nature writer Chantal Lyons, author of 'Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain’s Wild Boar', will discuss her book at Lydney Library this April. AN AWARD-winning nature writer will be speaking at Lydney Library later this month about her acclaimed book on wild boar. Chantal Lyons, author of Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain’s Wild Boar, will be hosting a Q&A session on the evening of Thursday, April 24. The book was shortlisted for the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Conservation and recently won the British Ecological Society’s Marsh Ecology Book of the Year award. Ms Lyons said: “My book largely focuses on the story of the boar’s return to the Forest of Dean, so I’m really excited to be speaking at the library.” The event will include a reading, insights into her research and writing process, and an opportunity for questions from the audience. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Lydney faces severe traffic gridlock as river bridge delays continue to cause travel chaos. If you’re planning to drive through Lydney, bus station end to town hall, which was the old A48 before the by-pass, through Newerne Street, then Hill Street then High Street, please take my advice. Don’t do it. Especially if it’s rush hour. On a recent visit to the town there was complete gridlock. Stationary traffic. Patient drivers. If my Cheltenham Gold Cup predictions had been correct, I could have jumped out of my car at the Newerne Street bookies to collect my winnings and returned to the car without causing further inconvenience to the long line of stationary traffic behind me. But my chosen horses were not cooperative, so I could not test out this theory, The flooding River Lyd made a mess of the lower part of Newerne Street last November. Many of the businesses on the eastern side of the river have been put out of business for a while or even permanently (with the sad demise of ‘The Annex’, once the night club centre of the Forest). The flooding seriously damaged Newerne Street bridge, which was completely closed for a couple of months and has still, two months later, shown no signs of being upgraded to full two-lane access. Eventually, we reach the traffic lights. They are on red. It seems for ages. But then – green. Hurray! But nothing moves. The level crossing gates by Lydney Station have just been closed to allow the Parkend Express to speed through the level crossing. But it’s not the Parkend express. It’s the slow train to Norchard which needs lots of encouragement to cross. No progress. It will be the same until there are two lanes on the River Lyd bridge. Until then - avoid it. Approaching the town centre from the east, we use the Lydney St Mary’s Church exit on a visit to the west of the town, and travel from west Lydney to east Lydney along the bypass. Avoid the bridge. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us A MOTORCYCLIST died following an early morning collision near a Forest of Dean docks last week Police were called by the ambulance service at around 6am last Thursday (January 23) to Harbour Road near Lydney Docks where a Zontes ZT125-U motorcycle had collided with a stationary lorry on Harbour Road Emergency services attended and despite their best efforts the motorcyclist Anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage and has not yet spoken to police Officers are making CCTV enquiries with local businesses in the area but anyone else with relevant CCTV footage is asked to come forward Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us A major new fish farm and foodie destination is to be developed by a leading Gloucestershire food producer near a popular Forest of Dean tourist spot after plans were approved this October 2024 Plans to develop a disused industrial site near Lydney Harbour into a fish smokery restaurant and visitor attraction are expected to deliver a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy Gloucestershire company Severn and Wye Smokery has been granted permission by Forest of Dean District Council to transform Pine End Works on Harbour Road, the site of former factories dating back to World War II into a new state-of-the-art fish processing facility and eel farm — for both human consumption and conservation restocking — along with a restaurant and visitor centre The company says the new facility will help secure its long-term future whilst providing a boost to the town's economy by becoming a tourist destination in its own right The plans comprise a fish processing plant; eel farm; visitor centre and restaurant along with staff accommodation; buildings for energy and storage; water lagoons for processing; new pedestrian cycle and vehicular accesses; a parking area; and planting and landscaping The redevelopment will involve the demolition of existing buildings while the new buildings have been designed to be energy efficient with solar PV installations on both the fish processing facility and eel farm prides itself on practicing 'the old-fashioned art of smokery' to supply high quality fish and meat to leading chefs and food halls around the world It currently operates a fish farm and popular seafood restaurant and shops just off the A48 at Chaxhill with further premises in Wiltshire and Lincolnshire says its current spread is inefficient and that the new development which will see the closure of its premises in Grimsby It also hopes to diversify into preparing smoked meats and cheeses which it says would need separate premises potentially at its current site in Chaxhill.  The scheme's approval this October 2024 comes with Lydney Harbour itself having been developed for tourism in recent years through the Forest of Dean District Council-led £2.1 million Destination Lydney Harbour project which has seen the addition of a new cafe Weekly lifestyle and business highlights straight to your inbox Being able to favourite articles is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Being able to create your own lists is just one of a host of member exclusive benefits Major plans for a fish factory, eel farm, restaurant and visitor centre at Lydney Docks have been given the go-ahead. Severn and Wye Smokery Ltd has been granted permission from Forest of Dean District Council to redevelop the Pine End Works site to the north of Harbour Road. Their scheme includes a two-floor 20,600m² fish processing building, a 8,000m² eel farm along with a restaurant, visitor centre, energy centre and staff accommodation. The proposals were due to be debated by the development management committee on August 13. However, the single agenda item was pulled and the meeting cancelled due to the submission of late material. The council said at the time that they didn’t have time to consider a late entry in time for it to be presented at the meeting. Officers told the development management committee meeting that the development would be undertaken in phases. And they recommended delegated permission be granted. They said the approval was very finely balanced given the proposals’ impact on the listed Naas House and its associated barn. Applicant Richard Cook said that fishing was the only vehicle glass eels have to get out of the Severn as many are killed by man-made flood defences. He said 70 percent of the glass eels caught are released for restocking. He said the fisheries employ more than 400 fishermen and it generates £2m for the local economy. “The glass eel fishery is owned by the poor not the aristocracy,” he said. “Severnsiders have a right to fish. “We are only custodians of this fishery, we do not own it. Without a well managed eel farm it would not only make the future of glass eel uncertain but the fisheries would diminish.” The company’s current site at Chaxhill is constraining the businesses’s ability to expand so the status quo “is not an option”. The development would also “underwrite the future of Severn and Wye Smokery as a business in Gloucestershire, widely recognised as a food county.” The investment in the first phase of the project is estimated at £58 million and would create some 240 permanent at the Lydney site. It would also be the catalyst for the development of the Chaxhill site into meat and dairy production employing some 85 to 95 people and giving a net gain in jobs of 210 The company says extensive landscaping works are also planned as part of the first phase which will make the area more attractive. A major objection related to the impact on the Naas House with Historic England saying while the level of harm would be less than substantial, the development would cause “unacceptable and avoidable” harm on the listed building. Cllr Carol Harris, speaking on behalf of Lydney Town Council, said the overall benefits to the town outweigh the concerns. She reiterated the council’s support for the proposals and said it would bring new jobs, housing, tourism and economic benefits. All three District Councillors for Lydney East spoke strongly in favour of the scheme. Conservatives James Bevan, andAlan Preest and Green Andrew McDermid called on the committee to approve the plans. Cllr Clayton Williams (C, Redmarley and Hartpury) proposed approving the scheme Vice-chairman Gill Moseley (LD, Newent) said the biggest hurdle to the plans has been the nearby listed building. Cllr Simpon Phelps (I, Westbury-on-Severn) said he firmly believed the scheme deserved their full support. He also said it would help preserve the Severn fisheries. “It brings an opportunity to maintain a prestigious business within our district,” he said. The committee voted unanimously to approve the proposals in line with the officer’s recommendation. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us A man has died following a collision in Lydney this morning (Thursday January 23) Police were called by the ambulance service at around 6am with a report a Zontes ZT125-U motorcycle had collided with a stationary lorry on Harbour Road a 44-year-old man who lived in the Fores was pronounced dead at the scene His next of kin and the coroner have been informed His family will be supported by a specially trained officer A collision investigation has taken place and the road closure has been lifted Officers will be making CCTV enquiries with local businesses in the area but anyone else with relevant CCTV footage is asked to come forward Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us By David Wood | 12th July 2024 Two notable civil engineering projects in Gloucestershire have been shortlisted for the ICE South West People's Choice Award 2024 The public now has the chance to choose the winner The restoration of Lydney Harbour and Tintern Wireworks Bridge strengthening and refurbishment project were chosen from dozens of entries across the South West to feature in an online vote made famous by the Netflix series "Sex Education" required extensive repairs to safeguard its long-term future In a £2.2 million project by Gloucestershire County Council modern engineering techniques were carefully integrated with the bridge's historic fabric This sensitive refurbishment aims to extend the life of this iconic structure by another 120 years The restoration of the 200-year-old Lydney Harbour which has revitalised the historic site into a safe and navigable harbour involved removing six metres of silt and refurbishing the sea gates Jackson Civil Engineering carried out the £2.1 million scheme for the Environment Agency with assistance from Centregreat Engineering is an annual initiative by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) South West It provides an opportunity for the public to learn about and vote for their favourite civil engineering projects in the region through a free online poll said: "The ICE South West People's Choice Award is a fantastic way to showcase civil engineering to the public and recognise the civil engineers who work to improve our communities "I encourage everyone to learn about the impressive projects on the shortlist and vote for the one they believe has made the most significant positive impact on the local area or the region as a whole." The winning project will be revealed at the ICE South West Civil Engineering Awards 2024 during a gala ceremony in Bristol on Thursday People have until Friday, August 30, to cast their vote at ice.org.uk/sw/awards Here is the full list of the 12 shortlisted projects: PLANS to build 1,300 new homes in Lydney could worsen flooding in the town in the future a councillor has warned. The Forest of Dean District Council’s draft local plan - the blueprint for development in the district until 2041 - has singled out Lydney as the place where most new homes will be built but Alan Preest, a longstanding county and district councillor for the town, says too many houses have been built in the area already. “We can’t just keep building houses,” he said. “It’s common sense, I cannot understand how plans for housing keep getting approval. They are impacting the local flood management schemes. Cllr Preest raised his concerns at Gloucestershire County Council’s environment scrutiny committee meeting held last week. He said water firms should have more of a saying in the planning process. “I’ve seen my town in Lydney, pretty well destroyed in a few areas this last week,” he said. “I’m faced with a lot of anger in Lydney. I’m faced with an authority in the Forest of Dean which is blinded by housing numbers. Local Plan cabinet member Sid Phelps (G, Lydbrook) said he understood the concerns over potential new housing in Lydney given the recent flood damage caused in the town. But he said the local plan had been put together after extensive research to ensure that there was no increased risk of flooding with new developments. “With the recent damage caused to properties and businesses in Lydney, I understand the concern over potential development in the area,” he said. “However, the draft local plan, ‘Our Plan’, has been put together following extensive research of the area, as well as conversations with partners, organisations and residents to ensure that there is no increased risk of flooding with any new development. ‘Our Plan’ states that areas at risk from flooding are unsuitable for most development and measures need to be taken by any new development to allow for changes such as rising sea levels and extreme weather. It also details that all new developments must ensure that flood risk is not increased elsewhere. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us Further Links By Sarah Wood | 8th August 2024 A Forest of Dean company with a £50m turnover has applied to the council to expand its business Severn and Wye Smokery began in 1989 and employs 240 people across sites in Chaxhill The company wants to set up an eel farm on a site in Lydney for both human consumption and conservation If Forest of Dean District Council's Development Management Committee gives it the go-ahead next week (August 13) it will be able to consolidate its business and close the sites in Grimsby The company said the multi-million-pound investment in the site will secure the long-term future of Severn and Wye Smokery in the district The size and scale of the buildings on the site will vary depending on their purpose with the tallest proposed buildings up to 10m in height Proposals are for a variety of materials and roof forms to break up the bulk of the larger buildings Residential accommodation on site will ensure the business can maintain a 24-hour operation with a dedicated workforce Plans are for five residential buildings on site - one consisting of 18 units of shared accommodation for seasonal staff; an apartment block of one and two bed apartments; and three detached houses These will have a contemporary appearance and make use of a mix of stone Five local people wrote letters of support for the application • Proposal is a fantastic idea for the derelict land in the area greatly improve the overall appearance of the area and hopefully drive further business to invest in the area • The needs of the business may provide opportunities to generate skilled jobs in the region for local residents along with apprenticeships which are not readily available within the Forest of Dean • Approval will create a long-term future for the youth to have long careers in what would be one of the most advanced food processing operations in the UK • More tree planting and screening needed to cover the business areas • Docks area is extremely dangerous and there is no protective walling to the sluice gate area no justification has been provided for this • Transport Assessment identifies 16 large vehicles coming and going through the night Lorry park and access is 180m from Grade II* listed Naas House which has 2mm thick glazing Vehicles manoeuvring through the night will be disruptive • Statutory obligation to have special regard to preserve listed buildings and settings; approving development will make an occupied listed building uninhabitable Severn and Wye Smokery is planning to source approximately 3.1 million glass eels from UK Glass Eels Ltd each year (ultimately mostly from the Severn Estuary Elver Fishery) around a million will be grown on at the Severn and Wye Eel Farm for three to six months and then made available for restocking into the upper reaches of the Severn The remaining two million would be used for commercial food production The council is recommending that the committee approve the plans By Sarah Wood | 18th November 2024 Variety retailer B&M saw an increase in sales in the six months to September 28 And the retailer said it is well positioned for the festive period But group adjusted operating profit was down 1.8% to £258m as B&M faced higher costs following a rise in store numbers and investment in its supply chain in France five in France and four Heron Foods stores The group has 764 B&M stores in the UK It is aiming to have at least 1,200 UK stores in the next decade it has opened 44 former Wilko shops and aims to open another eight in the second half of the year By Simon Hacker | 10th July 2024 A future-proof plan for two GP surgeries in the Forest of Dean to come under one roof in a £7.5m health centre is moving ahead – and could be operational in 18 months' time Lydney Health Centre and Severnbank Surgery intend to redevelop the former Co-Op on Lydney's Newerne Street and refashion the site to deliver a primary health care centre The complex will see the practices remain wholly separate in dedicated areas of the building with their own self-contained clinical and administration spaces It aims to cater for not only an existing GP book of 15,000 patients but also anticipates an additional 4,000 registrations in coming years NHS Gloucestershire's Primary Care and Direct Commissioning Committee says the plans are now activated after a decision on funding approval was made last month Subject to full planning approval from FoDDC both practices could be working in their new setting from spring 2026 said: "We are restricted by lack of space in our current premises size and shape of the buildings mean that further improvements are no longer viable." Co-locating into a single site would help the surgery to work flexibly and efficiently using the additional space to provide new services and clinics and offer training opportunities to staff we carried out a survey with our patients to understand what is important to them The results indicated that our patients value an accessible location access to district nurses and receptionists and use of modern technology and digital healthcare These new premises would enable us to meet these expectations." Final planning specification will see a total reconfiguration and refurb "to environmentally friendly specifications," the NHS says with expansion space for a further 4,000 patients to meet anticipated future demand a pharmacy and a wellbeing activity space for local community groups to use The project is being undertaken by Altrincham-based Assura PLC who specialise in building NHS infrastructure told Punchline-Gloucester.com: "It will be a fantastic asset that is fit for the future of Primary Care and deliver much needed services to the community in Lydney." Director of Primary Care and Place at NHS Gloucestershire added: "Modernising primary care facilities in Lydney is a priority particularly given the anticipated growth in the number of patients over the next 10 years We have been working closely with stakeholders and partners to find a way to deliver a viable She added that the new premises would offer patients and staff a more pleasant experience with family friendly facilities and waiting areas improved security and areas for confidential conversations as well as improved infection control arrangements." Anne visited the town of Lydney, in the Forest of Dean, which saw around 50 properties flooded in November 2024. She was welcomed to the high street, where a number of shops and businesses are still boarded up due to damage. After meeting business owners, emergency services and council workers, Anne braved heavy rain to walk half a mile to meet residents in Lakeside Avenue. Carol Pritchard, 82, told the 74-year-old princess how she is living in a caravan on her drive due to damage to her house. She described being flooded seven times since January 2008, with Storm Bert causing the most devastation – leaving 3ft of water in the downstairs of her home. Mrs Pritchard asked Anne – holding a black umbrella – to come into her home to see the impact, with Anne accepting her invitation. Speaking afterwards, Mrs Pritchard said: “I wanted to show her exactly what I am up against, all the time. “She was shocked. She couldn’t believe it. She was saying: ‘How can you live in this?’ “It will be put back together again, but I’m convinced it will happen again.” Mrs Pritchard said she had initially been living in temporary accommodation following the floods. But the properties were booked for Christmas, meaning she had to buy the caravan to live in with her cocker spaniel dog Alfie, 14, in December. “It’s estimated that I will be back in my home in around May,” she said. During the visit to the Gloucestershire town centre, Anne spoke to members of the public on the high street. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd Tel: 01594 841113[email protected]Follow us Lydney had a long trip via Gloucester down into Devon for a tricky looking Regional One South West fixture against Ivybridge on their artificial surface writes Roger Pike. Conditions were dominated by the storm with the posts swaying dramatically in the gale force wind. Rugby director Sam Arnott was again forced into changes with Grady Alford making his debut at scrum half, Mike Massey returning to the second row and Louis Jayne moved to the back row. Arnott’s game planwas executed perfectly by the team running everything, avoiding the kicking lottery. Lydney ran in 11 tries from eight scores with a hat trick for Ty Lewis in a 5-65 win. Playing against the gale, Lydney dominated the opening encounters. Good forward drives saw the ball spun across the backs for Ty Lewis to put a clever kick through and score after just two minutes but the wind made the wide out conversion virtually impossible for Jake Hanley. The hosts were soon deep in the 22m area but there was a knock on and Lydney ran it out with a superb break from Lewis saw him tackled just short. Dominant upfront, Lydney won another scrum and the ball was spun out for winger Henry Sleeman to crash through for 0-10. Lydney continue to dominate with Lewis tackled into touch just short. With 20 minutes gone the hosts were pinned in their half despite the wind advantage. Sleeman and Lewis were causing havoc on the wings and the forwards were dominating up front. Another move saw Alex Nelmes join the line from full back to make the extra man to score, Hanley added the extras for 0-17. With kicking impossible against the gale Lydney ran everything and the Ivybridge defence was breeched again with Sleeman crossing out wide for 0-22. The hosts got a yellow card for numerous offences but Lydney were forced to bring on Rowan Mullis for the injured Garrett Myers. Mullis had an immediate impact, crashing over close to the posts with Hanley adding the extras for 0-29. With Alford spinning the ball out on every occasion or Scriven picking up for forward drives the visitors continued to dominate. The hosts did get a chance to end the half with a score, but the Lydney defence held firm. Ivybridge came out with a brief response but made little progress playing against the gale. When the ball was dropped on halfway, Lydney kicked through for Hanley to touch down and 0-34. Directly from the kick off, Ben Large cut through with Hanley converting for 0-41. Ivybridge lost the ball again and sub Drew Roberts picked up to dart through,. Tackled just short, Lydney spun the ball out for Louis Jayne to score, Hanley added a difficult conversion for 0-48 with 20 minutes left. A brief Ivybridge attack saw the visitors defence again hold firm and a goal line drop out landed well inside the hosts’ half and Lydney pressed. With Ivybridge pinned in their half, Ty Lewis did another clever kick through for his second try out wide and another Hanley conversion made it 0-55. The Devon side got a consolation try in injury time, but from the kick-off another attack saw Ty Lewis cross again for his hat trick and 0-60. Still not done, the visitors attacked through a Ben Large break, recycling the ball for Mullis to score. Lydney: Garrett Myers, San Baker, James Bayliss, Mike Massey, Pat Hanslow, Louis Jayne, Kyle Frowen, Rielly Scriven, Grady Alford, Jake Hanley, Henry Sleeman, Ben Large (cast), Sam Harrison, Ty Lewis, Alex Nelmes. Replacements Rowan Mullis, Wilf Doyle-Finch, Drew Roberts. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us The Forest of Dean Neighbourhood Team cautions residents after reports of a canvassing scam in Lydney, urging vigilance and verification of credentials before donating. THE FOREST of Dean Neighbourhood Team is urging local residents to be vigilant following reports of a canvassing scam in the area. Recently, an incident was reported in Lydney where an individual posed as a charity collector near the Lydney Health Centre and requested money from the public. The team is advising everyone to exercise caution and ensure that any canvasser provides proper identification and documentation before agreeing to make a donation. Residents are encouraged not to give money to anyone who cannot provide the necessary credentials. The Neighbourhood Team stresses the importance of protecting the community from fraudulent activity and reminds the public to report any suspicious behaviour to Action Fraud or directly through the team’s website. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Starting 15 the same that was set to visit Marlborough last Saturday LAUNCESTON have named an unchanged side from the one due to visit Marlborough last Saturday for tomorrow’s home clash with Lydney (3pm). The All Blacks are six points off leaders Brixham in the race for the one promotion spot from Regional One South West after the Fishermen went top of the table courtesy of their victory over Exmouth and Barnstaple’s shock loss at strugglers Ivybridge. It meant that although the Cornishmen were without a game due to a frozen pitch in Wiltshire, they ended the day knowing the fate of the title is in their hands with Barnstaple still to play twice. They also visit Brixham on the final day of the season. Lydney head down from the Forest of Dean firmly in mid-table. They started the season with a bang, but since then have been inconsistent as shown by their record of seven wins and as many defeats from their 15 outings. When the two sides met in Gloucestershire back in October, Launceston put in arguably their best performance of the season in a 48-29 victory. One piece of good news for the All Blacks is that former captain Lloyd Duke is fit enough to return to the squad following a shoulder problem, and will provide a second back-row option off the bench along with Dom Ellery. Powerhouse prop Charlie Short will again look to add impact off the bench. There’s also plenty of other action around the club this weekend. Saturday starts with the Colts at home to Camborne at 11am before the Castles welcome St Ives Seconds in Counties Three Cornwall on Saturday (2pm) looking to bounce back from their promotion decider defeat at Camborne last weekend. However they get a second chance with the winners of the seven-team Counties Three Cornwall joining Camborne in Counties Two next season. The ladies haven’t played since December 15 when they won 41-5 at Yeovil, but the leaders start a run of three games in four weeks when they go to a Crediton side sitting second, four points adrift. The Cabettes then host Bath United next Sunday before welcoming Penryn on February 9. LAUNCESTON: James Tucker, Zerran Hammond, Billy Martin, Cam Fogden, Ollie Bebbington, Tom Sandercock (capt), George Hillson; Oli Martin, Levent Bulut, Mitch Hawken, Dan Goldsmith, Leion Cole, Tom Bottoms, Seb Cox, Brandon Rowley. Replacements: Charlie Short, Lloyd Duke, Dom Ellery. LAUNCESTON LADIES: Chloe Samways, Joey Bartlett, Meg Tucker, Abbie Smith, Rachel Hicks, Holly Williams, Amy Warman; Mel Ruby (capt), Jenna Arnold, Kim Upcott, Megan Arnold, Vicki Doidge, Abby Matthews, Caitlin Hancock, Briony Eddy. Replacements: Lowenna Cole, Ann-Marie Risdon, Josie Ninnis, Emlily Kneae, Madi Vine, Lauren Carlyon. Tel: 01579 342174[email protected]Follow us Further Links A SENSORY garden officially opened in Bathurst Park, Lydney on Wednesday (August 8), accompanied by speeches from key figures. A sensory garden is a self-contained area that allows people to experience a variety of sensory stimuli. Lydney’s is designed to engage all five senses and aims to be inclusive and accessible to everyone.  James Young, the Head Gardener for Bathurst Park & Recreation Trust, said the idea for the garden had been a concept he and the trustees had over a number of years, inspired by his son.  Mr Young expressed his gratitude to the team and those who have contributed. He said the garden will be “a valuable asset to the community” and it is “truly a community effort”.  Thanks was also given to John and Mary Thurston from Watts of Lydney Group, Gloucestershire County Council, M E Damsell and the Forest of Dean District Council.  Other key players thanked were Travis Perkins, Light Fantastic, Lydney Sawmills, SWM, Wye Vale Nurseries, Forest of Dean Stone Firms, Trudi from Four Seasons Café and Pete Spencer from Halo. Mr John Thurston, from the Watts of Lydney Group provided a brief history of Bathurst Park, noting that it was a gift to the people of Lydney from the Bledisloe family. He thanked the trustees for their ongoing efforts in maintaining and enhancing the park.  Mr Thurston praised James Young and his team for their dedication to improving “the jewel in Lydney's crown” and hoped that the Sensory Garden would bring joy and peace to all visitors.  Trustee Saunders, Chair of Bathurst Park & Recreation Trust said: “I hope the garden would serve as a safe, inclusive, and reflective space for the community” concluding the speeches. She expressed delight in seeing the Sensory Garden come to fruition from what began as a simple idea three years ago. Trustee Saunders mentioned the trustees' ongoing commitment to Bathurst Park’s development, with hopes to introduce more inclusive equipment, citing a recent visit to the local Hearts of the Forest School as an inspiration.  The opening ceremony was completed with the cutting of the ribbon. The Sensory Garden now stands as a testament to community spirit and dedication, offering a beautiful, inclusive space for all to enjoy. Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us The Beaufort Chepstow team claimed victory in the Lydney and District Quiz League while Chepstow Athletic Club B team won the Knockout Tournament The League is seeking new teams for next season to end a season of friendly but competitive quizzing teams from the Lydney and District Quiz League gathered at The Club in Chepstow for their annual Presentation and Social Evening after which came the presentation of trophies the competition to be crowned League champions went down to the very last round of matches with three teams in contention for the top spot The Beaufort Chepstow team emerged as champions with the Cross A team from Aylburton as runners up The end-of-season Knockout Tournament was won by the Chepstow Athletic Club B team the title was taken by the Cross Inn A team from Aylburton and the runners-up trophy went to the Beaufort Hotel from Chepstow rounding off six months of friendly but competitive quizzing The 2022/23 season League champions were the team from The Bell in Redbrook and the runners up were the Cross Keys A team from Lydney The end-of-season knockout tournament that year was won by the Chepstow Athletic Club C team The League is looking for new teams to join them next season (starting October 2025) Quiz matches are held on Sunday evenings (starting at 7.30) from October to March (with a break over Christmas and the New Year) and teams need a squad of about 6 people (matches are played between teams of 4 but home teams also have to supply a question reader and it’s a good idea to have reserve players) and a venue with a room or quiet corner where matches can be played Venues interested in entering a team or individuals interested in quizzing but currently without a team/venue can contact Sharon Sanderson ([email protected]) for more information and an informal chat. Tel: 01600 712142[email protected]Follow us A UNIQUE farm in Lydney has developed a pioneering agricultural project to grow salad products ‘vertically’ as it embraces modern technology and innovative methods.  This local initiative aims to establish itself as one of the world's largest vertical farms in the world after investing £23 million in the facility in Old Forge Place.   The facility is owned by the Jones Food Company and currently produces an impressive 16,000 bags of salad every day, highlighting the efficiency and productivity of vertical farming methods.  Vertical farming is a revolutionary approach that involves stacking crops in layers within controlled indoor environments. By doing so, it maximises land use efficiency and significantly reduces resource consumption compared to traditional farming methods.  James Lloyd-Jones, chief executive of the company, recently spoke about the project on BBC’s Farming Today, highlighting how vertical farming allows for year-round production of high-quality crops.   “This capability reduces our reliance on imported goods and ensures a steady supply of fresh, locally grown produce regardless of the season,” he said.  “We opened this farm in Gloucestershire because it is well located for us in terms of distribution centres and customers.  "There’s a good motorway network, strong labour candidate pool, and there are established growers of a variety of produce in that area so the skillset is established in the area which we can lean on."  The facility is equipped with technologies such as LED lighting and hydroponic systems, which create optimal growing conditions for plants. These advancements enable the farm to achieve crop yields up to 100 times greater per square meter compared to traditional farms.  The facility also allows for control in temperature and humidity to assist growth. Head of growing, Glyn Stephens, explained: “A lot of vertical farmers have focused on lights, but temperature and humidity control are where the real energy guzzle has traditionally been this is why it's been a core focus for us.”  The company states that growing crops locally and sustainably supports food security in the local community and economic growth. It also creates significant opportunities for an increase in employment.  Mr Lloyd-Jones said: “We have now cracked the code for accessible, sustainable, premium food being grown all-year round, at a super-competitive price. Commercial success in this sector has always been the challenge, but this farm smashes it.  “Technology and sustainability, when married at this kind of scale, revolutionises food production, combat climate change, ensure food security, address labour issues and maximise efficiency.”  The food company has been backed by retail giant Ocado in this venture. The group’s chief financial officer, Stephen Daintith, said: “We are passionate about the long-term potential of vertical farming for both the food industry and for the environment. This vertical farm is an important strategic investment for Ocado and represents a significant step forward in this exciting and transformational space.  This farm serves as a model for sustainable agriculture that can be replicated across the region. It demonstrates how innovative farming practices can address food production challenges while preserving natural resources.  Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us