Coalition Government cuts risk the introduction of access restrictions in privately owned forests
Two Everest summiteers, the Poet Laureate and the Archbishop of Canterbury are among leading public figures who have condemned the Government’s proposed sell-off of large tracts of English forests.
In an open letter, 87 people from across the political spectrum, ranging from actors and artists to academics, business leaders and religious leaders, say the decision to dispose of all England’s nationally owned forest is wrong.
In November last year, the coalition Government announced it would sell half of England’s Forestry Commission land. But provisions in the Public Bodies Bill currently passing through Parliament would allow the whole estate to be sold without further parliamentary scrutiny.
The letter says: “We believe the Government’s decision to pursue legislation to allow the disposal of all England’s public forest estate is wrong.
“Without asking our permission Government has already allowed the sale of 15 per cent of our public woodlands. Similar plans have been rejected by the Scottish and Welsh parliaments.
“We, who love, use and share the English forests believe that such a sale would be misjudged and shortsighted.”
Archbishop Rowan Williams has signed the letter, as has Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy and Everest mountaineers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Annabelle Bond.
Other heavy hitters from the celebrity world who signed the letter include Dame Judi Dench, Annie Lennox, Anthony Gormley, Tracey Emin, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, X-Files actress Gillian Anderson, actor Richard E Grant and Blur bassist Alex James.
Stanley Johnson, father of London mayor Boris, adventurer Ben Fogle and Bill Bryson, president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England are also among the signatories.
The letter continues: “We who know the value of the forests fear that over time, the public’s access to them will be limited and their protection, eroded. Indeed the recently privatised Rigg Wood now has no visitor services and a bolted gate.
“The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Jim Paice, has offered only vague assurances, admitting: ‘It would be a brave politician who guaranteed anything’.
“We believe it unconscionable, that future generations will no longer enjoy the guarantee of a public forest estate.”
Although the Government has said that access provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act would continue for any privatised forests, these could be challenged by new owners and, in any case, do not give any rights to cyclists, many of whom use the existing Forestry Commission land for their mountain biking activities.
The letter calls on the ministers to remove three ill conceived clauses from the Public Bodies Bill, and suspend any significant sales until the public has been fully consulted.
It adds: “We expect our leaders to engage in real dialogue with communities throughout the country to create a sustainable future for our public woods and forests.”
Further details can be seen on the Save England’s Forests website.
Duke Mackenzie-Ross.
23 January 2011I lend my full support to Our Endeviour's to retain Our Natural Heritage ! Our COUNTRY-SIDE ! If my Niece. Lady Helens involved. Then so am I, because my our Trust Land appears to be first !
Regards.
Duke Mackenzie-Ross.
MMxi.
Tony Greaves (aka Lord Greaves)
23 January 2011Anyone who wants to lobby on this issue should do two things.
(1) Respond to the Government consultation which will probably be launched by a statement in Parliament on Thursday. This will be on the DEFRA website.
(2) Send your views to members of the House of Lords (see the TheyWorkForYou website for a full list!)
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/
The forestry issue is part of the Public Bodies Bill which is slowly plodding its way through its committee stage in the Lords. Forestry is in Clauses 17 and 18, which give the Secretary of State powers to sell, transfer, etc any of the forestry estate which is currently run by the Forestry Commission on her behalf.
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/publicbodieshl.html
Top right on that page there is a link to all the bill documents (the Bill itself and to all the amendments tabled).
The next time we debate the Bill (scheduled for this coming Tuesday 25th Jan but probably the week afterwards due to other pressing business) we will debate (and possibly pass) the Forest of Dean and amendments from the Bishop of Gloucester to maintain its existing special status whcih mean it cannot be sold off. But the rest of the forestry stuff will not come up until near the end of the Bill - probably some weeks away.
I and others have amendments down to remove the forestry clauses from the Bill, and others to include various safeguards.
(If anyone wants advice about what the Bill does etc, or the parliamentary procedures etc, please email me at greavesa@parliament.uk).
p keene
23 January 2011family silver went now the bloody trees
alba
23 January 2011its great to see the people of the uk have taken the sell of forestry commission to heart,and want to fight for it ,but remember this the tories did this in the eighties lied and tried to dupe the public and its employees all over britain and they failed.
wales and scotland by a twist of fate having devolved goverments are looking like they escaped ,not so employees conditions have been desamated without retort as unions are powerless to stop the coalition ,so over 325 employees in scotland are getting the chop and more to come and this is due to a scots goverment snp to be exact already tried to sell of the felling rights two years ago.
so changing the forestry bill by force without public consiltation or open debate proves that we do not live in a democracy but state run big society but its their ideals will be imposed on the masses.
at a cost of 30 pence ahead in britain to the taxpayer we will loose our forests for 100million what on earth will that go towards grants to the public sector forestry ,and no return to the taxpayer.
tourism for britain ,outdoor activities ,freedom to roam on well managed forests welcomed with open arms ,dog walking ,wildlife ,conservation , biodiversity,well being ,will all dissappear despite promises ,gone and gone forever you decide but do nothing about it future generations will look on as the newzealand people do now on mass privateering of forests and the devistation to land and communities ,take a look at forestry since privatisation in newzealand and its scary and covered up by goverment as the private companies own the goverment.
Nick Gallop
25 January 2011Great comments on this important issue.
I've joined together with two friends to draw important facts to the public's attention and provide a platform for sensible debate over the future of our Forests and woodland - something that seems to have been missing until now.
All three of us are passionate outdoors people and bring a unique mix of experience in woodland management, outdoor education, hillwalking and campaigning.
This must be fought on the facts, not on out of date assumptions about our forest estate and weak promises.
Please add your voice. www.saveourwoods.co.uk