Members of the public are invited to share their views on the future of Cannop Ponds, as Forestry England hosts eight engagement sessions this March 2023.
Taking place at The Speech House Hotel near Coleford on Tuesday 21 and Thursday 30 March 2023, residents can have their say on the various plans put forward to futureproof the site amid significant concerns over the safety of its ageing dams.
Each engagement session will last for around an hour and include a presentation and Q&A, as well as the opportunity to look at visual representations of potential plans for the site, providing feedback on each of the options.
Those plans include replacing spillways and dam walls with bigger, wider and stronger structures that adhere to current safety standards, or the partial or full removal of the dams, with hopes that whatever option is chosen will include equal or greater public access, improved biodiversity and better flood attenuation.
Deputy surveyor for the Forest of Dean for Forestry England, Kevin Stannard, said: 'Over the last few months we have been busy gathering data.
While some surveys will still be ongoing, by March we will be at a point
where we can properly engage the public and have some information to answer
their questions and receive their input.
'The views of the public have always been important to us and the timing of this event should allow for two-way engagement that will be meaningful for all.'
Engagement sessions are free to attend and anyone wishing to take part must book tickets online in advance at eventbrite.com.
For anyone unable to attend there will also be an online version of the presentation and visual representations with a chance to submit comments made available in March 2023.
For more information, visit forestryengland.uk.
