IN a bid to support the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’s quest to see the Forest become an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), leader of the Forest of Dean District Council (FDDC) Cllr Patrick Molyneux has enlisted the support of Forest MP Mark Harper.

In December, the council carried a motion, put forward by Cllr Alan Preest, to seek this status, but Natural England, the body who grants this status has said ‘no’. The Review has seen a letter to Mark Harper from area manager for the South Mercia team, Audrey Roy.

She says: “We do not expect to be in a position to review other designated boundaries, including the Forest of Dean, until 2018/19 at the earliest … when we last undertook a review it did not reveal any significant evidence to support a priority designation at the Forest of Dean.”

Ms Roy goes on to say that Natural England: “Very much recognise[s] the economic value of the area and the excellent contribution the Forest of Dean makes to the fabric of the local natural environment.”

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Liz Truss also responded to Mark Harper, saying: “I appreciate how important this issue is to Cllr Molyneux. However Natural England is responsible for appraising suggestions for new designated areas.”

The Forest of Dean was designated as a National Forest Park in 1938.