Goverment Public Consultation on Sale of Woodland

[Scott]

As I understand it, it's the "small commercial" forests that may simply be sold off under "estate rationalisation". I reckon this is where a bit of local lobbying may (or may not) make a difference. If orienteers are the only real public users you probably don't stand much of a chance (and will have to pin your hopes of the new landlords being friendly), but if the wood is also popular with other activities you might be able to make a difference.

[graeme]

Allemansrätt works generally well here in Sweden, and its something the Swedes are proud of, but it just wouldn't work in 2011 England.

We don't quite have Allemansrätt here in Scotland, but access is much closer to the Swedish model than the English, and it seems to work OK despite the large numbers of English people living and visiting
I'm not saying it will be easy: I'm saying you'll never get a better chance.

[SeanC]

I must admit I only learnt yesterday of the "protection levels". We'll see what protection is in reality but it's something encouraging.

Lobbying to get your local good area for O upgraded to "heritage" or "multi-purpose" status seems like a good plan. We have only one FC area - Jeskyns Farm - which according to that map has been given heritage status. Anyone who's ever been there will know is not the world's most important site for wildlife or the UK's most beautiful piece of forest*, but is very popular with many people from nearby Gravesend (it has been promoted as an FC run local country park). Gravesend is, by an amazing co-incidence, a marginal constituency.

Presumably BOF would be interested in this information for their lobbying as well?

*not even the most beautiful in Gravesend.

[ryeland of doom]

Allemansrätt works generally well here in Sweden, and its something the Swedes are proud of, but it just wouldn't work in 2011 England. There are number of obligations that must be met with Allemansrätt that many English people would have difficulty in respecting. For example: Damaging or littering the forest. and keeping dogs under control.

We cope next door.

[The Cumbrian]

[quote="graeme"]It's disappointing to see how negative the anti-selloff lobby is being. From an orienterring point of view I don't care about who owns the forest, I care about access.

I think we all care about access as orienteers and thats clearly what we need to secure but for me the second issue is more ConDem sell off of the countrys resources...yes the land is leased but the crop is sold off...China is buying up land and resources around the world to secure their growth. If timber values increase as pressure on resources does then thats more income lost to the Treasury as well as the decreased tax income that comes from land owning tax dodgers!

[denzil53]

It seems that there is now some backtracking going on over this issue.
The Telegraph reports that:
The strength of the protests against Government plans to privatise the nation’s forests has led to a promise that the sell-off was “not a done deal”.

I wrote to my MP last week on this, but have not yet received a reply. I'm not holding my breath . . . . .

[smf]

Government U-turn on forest sell-off
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12428814

[Spookster]

Government U-turn on forest sell-off
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12428814

Hardly a U-turn, but perhaps a slight application of the brakes.

Ministers say the 15% sale - which will raise an estimated £100m - will still go ahead over the next four years but they wanted to ensure "the necessary protection for all public benefits of the public forest estate are in place".

It has no impact has on impact on the ongoing consultation on the remaining 85% of the public forest estate, the Department of the Environment stressed.

[Red Adder]

Either the prelude to a full yewie or just a feint to be followed by implementation when people have relaxed -or are worrying about this government's next policy disaster.

[denzil53]

Government U-turn on forest sell-off
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12428814

Hardly a U-turn, but perhaps a slight application of the brakes.

Definitely a U-turn, judging by the latest pronouncements. This will now be quietly dropped.

[denzil53]

Looks like it's all off then. From the Guardian today:

David Cameron is to back away from plans to change the ownership of 258,000 hectares of state-owned woodland in England after admitting to MPs he is unhappy with the policy.

The prime minister indicated that the government would embark on another major U-turn after Ed Miliband asked him in the Commons whether he was happy with his flagship policy to sell off the forests.

To laughter, the prime minister replied: "The short answer to that is, no."

[Red Adder]

Funny how his MPs were supposed to be against the policy - but in the vote a couple of weeks ago all the EA Tories (including two with very significant FC holdings in their constituencies) supported the idea. Like all politicians - craven,, self-serving ********.

[Big Jon]

Looks like the bastards are backing down.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... eron-uturn
Keep hassling them to avoid any weaselly sneakily inserted clauses to increase sell off of any forest land.

[Mrs H]

Blimey - what would you have called them if they hadn't backed down?

[denzil53]

Just on Sky News:

"The Government has abandoned plans to sell-off England's forests to private companies amid growing criticism. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has made the announcement in the House of Commons, saying "we got this one wrong", as she halted the public consultation into the proposals."