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Original poster

For sale: Our lovely forests

57 replies

grannieonabike · 31/10/2010 14:01

Can anyone explain this? I think I heard on the radio that the Forestry Commission is going to sell off the Forest of Dean.

(Also heard that the people of Dover are going to buy the Port, but that was better than Calais buying it!?)Confused

OP posts:
Isthreetoomany · 02/11/2010 00:11

My understanding is that the government will say that they will protect free access, but that in practice it will not be possible to police whether or not the new landowners actually allow people to use the forests.

I have also heard that selling the forests will not actually save money anyway, as the new landowners can apply for woodland grant funding at the taxpayers expense.

There is a petition here: www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/save-our-forests

huddspur · 31/10/2010 15:26

I'm sure that even if they are sold off they will allow free access and put extremely tight planning restrictions on them.

Original poster
grannieonabike · 31/10/2010 15:15

Would that mean free access would be protected?

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 31/10/2010 14:29

Ports are commerical operations. Medway Ports, for example, owns Sheerness and Chatham Docks and is part of the Peel Ports which owns, among other things, the Manchester Ship Canal. Selling off Dover Port as a commercial venture is not like selling off the white cliffs (as the Vera Lynn endorsement presumably wants us to think).

Forest of Dean is run as a commercial timber producing operation by the Forestry Commission. Not heard that it's for sale but would assume that if it is, as a designated 'National Forest Park' it would have to stay as such.

Original poster
grannieonabike · 31/10/2010 14:22

But although they say the public will still have access, they don't say it will be free access. Imagine having to pay to go to a forest.

What about the Right to Roam? Would that be affected, I wonder? Haven't they recently made it possible to walk right along the coast even if that means going through private land? Maybe they would do the same with the forests. Hope so.

OP posts:
Meglet · 31/10/2010 14:19

If they are selling it then I hope the right people buy it and manage it properly.

I'm sure it won't just be a free for all and let it all get built on Sad.

Original poster
grannieonabike · 31/10/2010 14:10

Here's the link: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11653679

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