Forest sale postponed but we need to keep fighting

The forest sale is not over despite the slight posponement. It also now looks like it will cost more money than it saves. 

Green leader Caroline Lucas MP has responded to today’s statement from DEFRA on the sale of Forestry Commission land (1) in which they indicated a postponement of the sell-off.

Caroline said:

"No one should be misled into thinking that today’s statement represents a reprieve for the nation’s forests and woodlands. It refers to the ongoing sale of Forestry Commission assets, as begun under the previous administration, and whilst I welcome the Government giving greater consideration to protecting access to our woodlands there is still no sign that they are genuine about this in the long term.

"It’s clear that the Government is now on the back foot as a result of the public campaign against their ill judged proposals. But we still have a fight on our hands to resist the legislative changes that would make the forest sell off a reality – which is why I will be seeking to amend the Public Bodies Bill in the Commons."

Front page of Your Maidstone

Good to see 'Your Maidstone' put us on the front page with the Maidstone's MP backs forest scandal. Also good to see the Kent Wildlife Trust and CPRE Kent actively opposing the sale too. Both very good organisations!

A poll on the Kent News website has 77% opposed to the forest sale.

Kent Wildlife Trust wade into the Forest For Sale debarcle

Good to see the Kent Wildlife Trust wading into the Forest For Sale debarcle:

"Some of Kent’s rarest wildlife could be put at risk by government plans to sell off the country’s forests.

This is the stark warning from the Maidstone-based Kent Wildlife Trust."

An utterly irresponsible act of environmental vandalism

I have branded Maidstone's MP as utterly irresponsible after Helen Grant voted on Wednesday to back the government's forestry sell off which will include Bedgebury Forest near Cranbrook. Part of Bedgebury Forest is in our constituency.

Stuart Jeffery who stood against Helen Grant in last year's parliamentary election, said: "I am appalled that Helen Grant can think it reasonable to sell off one of the country's greatest assets, our forests. This is an utterly irresponsible act of environmental vandalism.

"At present, the price of maintaining our forests amounts to 30p annually for each one of us. This represents tremendous value for money. The planned sell off amounts to 374,000 hectares of publicly owned land, much of which could be turned into privately owned leisure centres if the Government gets it way. There is no guarantee that the forest will be accessible to the public, no guarantee that it will be properly managed and no guarantee that it will even keep its trees.

"Selling what is rightfully owned by the public is a massive backward step and once gone will never be regained without huge cost to the taxpayer. This is ideological and not in the public interest. Our forests not only provide enjoyment for millions of people, but are essential to maintain biodiversity in an age of increasingly intensive farming. This government has called itself the 'greenest ever' but this claim is fast becoming the subject of derision."