We have posted before on Forest Dean Council’s attempt to ban sheep from the village of Bream. The ban would have threatened traditional sheep-grazing practices and the long-standing practice of sheep commoning.

There is good news: the PSPO was defeated, in a tight and heated council vote. The council committee was evenly split on the issue (19:19), and the chair decided the matter by voting against the PSPO.

This is wonderful news – a rare case of a PSPO being defeated in council committee.

It shows the importance of PSPOs passing through local democracy, and being subject to debate and argument at a local and national level.

We must praise the hard work and persistence of the Forest of Dean sheep Commoners Association, with whom we have been delighted to work (see a letter from them after the deciding vote). See coverage of the decision in the local newspaper.