Forestry Commission land disposals

[SYO Member]

I came across this by chance which is from 28th February 2011 and is the answer to a
House of Lords question.

http://services.parliament.uk/hansard/L ... rt041.html

The 3 tables show all Forestry Commission areas in England sold since 2005 (the
majority of which have occurred in the last 18 months), all acquisitions since 2005,
and of interest to clubs' permissions officers, the new owners of areas sold after May
11th 2010.

Admittedly (even after multipling hectares by 2.5 to give acres!) alot of the areas are
small, but it's a useful document which shows a fair amount of terrain familiar to
orienteers.

[Red Adder]

Its worrying that the sell off may still occur, though by the back door.

What may slow it down as an article I saw a couple of days ago which suggesyted that the Coalition's minsters are a pretty incompetent lot and Spelman and Defra leading the way in failing to design let alone attempt to implement policies by target dates.

Actually non-govt is a pretty good way to go, as long as not too much money is spent. Belgium hasn't had one for months and everything is progressing quite nicely I believe.

[Clive Coles]

Under the Public spending review DEFRA expect the Forestry Commission budget to be cut by 25%

FC have just completed their staff consultation to explain the consequences of the spending review ~ the proposal tabled for discussion suggested the following Office closures
· Clifton Moor
· Rothbury
· Dunsop Bridge
· Bourne Wood Silverstone Bentley
· Tangham
· Dartmoor Cardinham

The preferred option for Forest Enterprise England (FCE) is built around just six enlarged Forest Districts and a restructured National Office Team. It has, as its basis, concentration of activity on the core forests and a smaller public forest estate, following the planned reduction of 40,000ha by April 2015.

FCE staff numbers are proposed to reduce from 854 to 617.

The final decisions on FCE restructuring and consequential staffing reductions are due to be announced by the end of May.

Believe what you will, but the so called Caroline Spelman "U" turn was a tactical withdrawal. DEFRA are pressing ahead with plans to slim down the Public Forest Estate and are not even waiting for the Panel of Experts, who are charged with reviewing and defining future Forestry policy. to report.

[Big Jon]

"Believe what you will, but the so called Caroline Spelman "U" turn was a tactical withdrawal."

Just what I'd expect from the current government of shysters - Government of the millionaire, by the millionaire, for the millionaire. No interest in anything except making money and shooting furry things (the country variety of Tory anyway).