A group tasked to investigate irresponsible shepherding has recommended that sheep be allowed to continue to roam freely in the Forest of Dean.

The District Council scrutiny task group has published its findings and draft recommendations which will be presented at the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on March 3rd, 2016.

The recommendations are:

• To reaffirm support for the tradition of free roaming sheep in the Forest of Dean.

• To support the utilisation of the measures contained within the Marsh 2014 Responsible Shepherding Agreement.

• To invite the Commoners’ Association to have a further discussion in an endeavour to resolve problems relating to free roaming sheep in villages in the West Dean area.

•To progress with a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for Bream. To be introduced in accordance with the provisions contained within the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The full version of the report is available to view on the Council’s website www.fdean.gov.uk

Councillor Roger James, chairman of the scrutiny task group said: “The task group has taken into account all the written and spoken views when drawing up our recommendations for scrutiny.

“The recommendations take on board the tradition of free roaming sheep, but also look to address the problems caused by irresponsible shepherding in order to protect the West Dean Parish, and in particular the village of Bream.”