Forest of Dean is a local government district in west Gloucestershire, England, named after the Forest of Dean. Its council is based in Coleford. Other towns and villages in the district include Blakeney, Cinderford, Drybrook, English Bicknor, Huntley, Littledean, Longhope, Lydbrook, Lydney, Mitcheldean, Newnham and Newent.
History The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The new district covered the whole area of four former districts and part of a fifth, which were all abolished at the same time: East Dean Rural District Gloucester Rural District (parishes of Newnham and Westbury-on-Severn only) Lydney Rural District Newent Rural District West Dean Rural District The new district was named Forest of Dean after the ancient woodland which covers much of the district.
Under current local government reorganisation plans, the council will be abolished from 2028, with a single council for all of the current Gloucestershire County Council area.
Governance
Forest of Dean District Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Gloucestershire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.
Political control Since the 2023 election the council has been run by a Green minority administration with support from Labour on a confidence and supply basis.
The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows: (Put "Forest of Dean" in search box to see specific results.) Party in controlYears 1974–1976 1976–1991 1991–2003 2003–present
Leadership The leaders of the council since 2007 have been:
Councillor Party From To Marion Winship 24 May 2007 Sep 2009 Peter Amos 11 Sep 2009 May 2011 Patrick Molyneux 26 May 2011 13 Jul 2017 Tim Gwilliam 13 Jul 2017 25 May 2023 Mark Topping 25 May 2023 18 Apr 2024 Adrian Birch 18 Apr 2024
Composition Following the 2023 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2026 the composition of the council was:
Of the independent councillors, six sit together as the "Independent Group", four form the "Progressive Independent Group", and the other is not aligned to a group.
Premises The council is based at the Council Offices on High Street in Coleford.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2019, the council has comprised 38 councillors elected from 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
Parishes and settlements
The whole district is divided into civil parishes. The parish councils of Cinderford, Coleford, Lydney and Newent take the style "town council".
Settlements include: Alvington, Awre, Aylburton Blaisdon, Birdwood, Bream, Brockweir, Bromsberrow, Blakeney Churcham, Cinderford, Coleford Drybrook, Dymock Ellwood, English Bicknor Gorsley and Kilcot Hartpury, Hewelsfield, Highleadon, Huntley Kempley Littledean, Little London, Longhope, Lydbrook, Lydney Malswick, Mitcheldean Newent, Newland, Newnham Oxenhall Pauntley, Parkend Redmarley D'Abitot, Ruardean, Rudford, Ruspidge Soudley, St. Briavels, Staunton (near Coleford), Symonds Yat Taynton, Tibberton, Tidenham Upleadon Westbury-on-Severn, West Dean, Woolaston
Media Television The district is served by BBC West and ITV West Country with television signals received from the Mendip TV transmitter. Northern parts of the district is served by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central with television signals received from the Ridge Hill transmitter. Radio Radio stations for the area are: BBC Radio Gloucestershire on 104.7 FM and 1413 AM. BBC Hereford and Worcester can also be received on 94.7 FM. Heart West on 102.4 FM. Greatest Hits Radio South West on 107.5 FM. Dean Radio, a community radio station which broadcast on 95.7 FM and 105.6 FM. Newspapers The district's local newspaper is The Forester.
References
External links Forest of Dean District Council