MARK Harper and the local Conservatives ask that we

ignore the clear statements of intent by ministers to sell-

off the Forest and to trust that it will be all right in the

end!

Diana Edwards, Tory deputy leader of the Forest of

Dean District Council seems hardly con­vinced herself

when she says: "If it is the case that it won't be protected,

Foresters can rest assured we will do everything we can to

take action. But we have had the assurance of our MP

Mark Harper and I'm sure he knows what he is talking

about."

Oh well, that's ok then.

Faith in the local Conservatives was hardly bolstered

when their local leader, Peter Amos, said: "It doesn't

matter who owns it as long as it stays in public

ownership."

With the Public Bodies Bill going through Parliament

now, we are asked to trust in a White Paper that will set

out a range of options for the future of the Forest. None

of them will adequately safeguard the Forest of Dean as it

is now. All of them signal the end of publicly owned and

managed forests.

It will be 50 ways to leave your lover when we

haven't even fallen out! 'None of the above' will not be on

the list and such an option will only be achieved by

amending the Public Bodies Bill now.

The Government's approach is based upon the

premise that public ownership of our woodlands is bad –

despite all the evidence to the contrary. So how can we

trust our local MP who has so far handled this issue so

badly.

It remains unclear how the Government will

determine which options for which forests will be applied.

The break-up of the national estate will mean that the

more profitable forests will be sold leaving the rest even

more dependent upon subsidy or even more at risk from

measures to cut costs.

Even Mark Harper realises that talking about

privatising the Forest is political suicide so instead we are

presented with the option of a transfer to a community

interest body or a 'not-for-profit' business. But these will

still have to cover their costs. Not-for-profit is also Not-

for-loss. The only way to balance the books will be more

commercial activities, big hikes in fees and charges

alongside cuts in woodland management.

I am a keen supporter of social enterprise and

mutual alternatives to private business. But under the

Conservatives, there has been a cynical distortion of their

values to privatise public services. Once transferred out of

public ownership there is no way back. As we are

witnessing in the NHS, many of these bodies seem almost

set-up to fail. When they do, the next inevitable step is

into corporate ownership.

If Mark Harper thinks we are going to see his

promised White Paper and wonder what all the fuss was

about he is mistaken. If he thinks the Forest community

are going to trust some vague assurances wrapped up in

the twisted use of language he does not understand the

voters of the Forest of Dean.

Hands off our Forest. It must remain in public

ownership and management.

– Nigel Costley, regional secretary, South West TUC.