Council to take forward Coleford residents’ vision for a greener, fairer future

The visioning plan was developed by a group of Coleford residents selected through a ‘sortition’ process - a random selection from all households in the town - ensuring that participants reflected the diversity of the local community.

Councillor Jackie Dale, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities at Forest of Dean District Council said:

“I’m delighted that we can now begin addressing the recommendations made by Coleford residents. Their priorities closely align with our own commitment to tackling the Climate, Biodiversity and Ecological Emergencies, and to building thriving, resilient communities and a strong local economy.”

“Forest of Dean District Council and Coleford Town Council are committed to working hand-in-hand with community groups, residents and other partners to create a fairer, greener and more connected Coleford. Many of the plan’s recommendations complement our existing work, and we will continue to make these initiatives more visible and accessible. Where new actions are needed, we’ll seek funding, partnerships and policy changes to support them. We’re extremely grateful to everyone who took part in the citizen visioning process - their insights will help guide our future plans.”

A shared vision was created by the group, describing an ideal future Coleford that:

• is a thriving, inclusive and safe town, with a strong community
• is a place where residents are empowered and supported by local councils to take shared responsibility for a better, green future
• has availability of affordable food from the local area and renewable energy for self-sufficiency
• has fewer cars and better access to nature
• has resources and support so that everyone can help with climate action
• has free accessible events and public spaces that bring people together

Working alongside Coleford Town Council and other partners, the District Council will now take forward these recommendations by embedding them into local strategies and identifying opportunities to fund and deliver new projects.

Initial actions will include supporting Active Travel and improving infrastructure such as cycling, walking and wheeling routes and ensuring suitable employment areas are included in the Forest of Dean Local Plan and the Coleford Neighbourhood Development Plan. The council will also seek funding for affordable water storage and saving schemes for households.

This initiative forms part of the wider ‘Forest Fast Followers’ project, funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living programme, which supports local authorities in accelerating their transition to net zero.