THE extraordinary response of volunteers in the Dean to lockdown will be remembered with “a proper Forest shindig”, the leader of the district council has said.

But the idea could have been over before it started after the councillor behind it also suggested thanking the government for its assistance to the Forest.

Tory councillor Nick Evans put a motion to last week’s meeting of the Forest Council to hold a post-pandemic event.

The Tidenham councillor said it would be a way of thanking those who helped neighbours, health workers, other key workers and council staff.

But he also included the government for its support of businesses and jobs in the Forest.

Although he said he had been “very specific” about the wording of that part of the motion, some councillors were unhappy about it.

That did not include leader of the council Cllr Tim Gwilliam (Prog Ind, Berry Hill) – although a statement had to be read on his behalf because he was self-isolating.

He said: “Everything Cllr Evans says about those groups is absolutely true.

‘‘I have already raised with the chairman (Cllr Julia Gooch) an appropriate event to mark the remarkable community and organisational teamwork and endeavour that helped so many and undoubtedly saved so many lives

“When the time is right – and we can do so safely and properly – we will have a proper Forest shindig.”

The former Labour councillor said he had “no qualms” about thanking the government.

“Throughout the pandemic we can have no complaints about the support and finance given to us

“Our officers and members have worked splendidly to get the grants out to businesses and individuals but the finance was always there.

“What they said they would do, they did and you can’t ask for any more.”

But Cllr Di Martin (Lab, Cinderford West) said she was “very disappointed” to see the government mentioned, although she insisted she was not making a “political” point.

She said: “I’m proud of the local community, of the Forest of Dean effort.

“I’m making no political comment on that other than this motion is about the Forest of Dean, the community and organising an event to thank the community

“There is no need to bring in what the government has done.

“This is about the efforts of people living locally.

“This is about thanking our wonderful community.

“Of course people have had help – this isn’t political posturing its about the effort the community has put in.’’

Green councillor David Wheeler said the government had done some good things but in other areas it had been a shambles.

Cllr Wheeler works with homeless people and he said the government’s response to the homeless had been a success.

He added: “It is difficult to support the motion – I want to recognise when the government does something good whether it is a Conservative government (or not) – but it hasn’t been undiluted success.”

Deputy leader of the council Cllr Paul Hiett (Prog Ind, Bream) said the thanks to the government were for the funding received in the Forest.

He said: “I’m in a difficult position as a 30-year card carrying Labour member and lifelong socialist – I’m going to defend the government.

“It’s been frankly staggering the amount of money that has gone out to help our businesses and keep people afloat in the Forest of Dean.

“It is churlish to condemn that part of the motion.

“Has the government got everything right? No, but the motion by Cllr Evans is factually correct.”

Cllr Harry Ives (Con, Lydney North) pointed to the efforts of groups such as the Lydney Support Group which had helped more than 450 people and is still active and individuals who had assisted the community.

He said the government had also given significant help to the district.

He said: “This district has received extremely large sums of financial support during this pandemic.”

Cllr Philip Burford (Ind, Hartpury) said the effort to thank the community could end up looking like a “a political bunfight when it deserved rather better.”

Cllr Martin proposed an amendment which would have taken out the reference to the government but it was defeated.

The original motion was passed with 21 votes, two against and seven abstentions.