THE government is introducing legislation that will extend the power of ministers to transfer 'surplus' public land to the Homes and Communities Agency for development.

This means that our public forests could be disposed of by any future government.

We wish to resist this proposed legislation and to persuade the government to insert words within the proposed new law, the Infrastructure Bill, which would confirm that our public forests cannot be included in these land-transfer schemes.

So far the government is refusing amend the bill and thus to keep our forests safe.

The House of Lords meets in October to consider the Infrastructure Bill including an amendment from Baroness Royall of Blaisdon and the Bishop of St Albans which will ensure public forests are exempt from the bill.

This is our next opportunity to persuade the government to do the right thing.

The Hands Off Our Forests (HOOF) campaign is working hard to get the government to reconsider and West Dean Parish Council gives HOOF its full support.

HOOF led the successful campaign to challenge the privatisation of the forests in 2010, but this battle has now to be re-fought.

Further information is available on the HOOF website http://www.hoof.org.uk">www.hoof.org.uk

– Dave Kent, Clerk, West Dean Parish Council.