FOREST MP, Mark Harper has stressed: "There is no plan to sell the Forest off to private developers."

Speaking in advance of the Hands off Our Forest rally on Monday (January 3) the MP said there would be full public consultation on the government's plans and there would be a "full opportunity for everyone in the Forest of Dean to express their views."

The MP's statement is as follows: "Early in the new year the government will publish its plans for the public forest estate, including the Forest of Dean.

"I have discussed this issue with the Forestry Minister and he is very clear about the importance of protecting the Forest of Dean. Neither I, nor the government have any intention of doing anything that would damage our Forest. I am confident that the plans set out in the white paper will properly protect the Forest of Dean."

He continues: "However, I am not surprised that the political opponents of me, my party and the coalition government refuse to accept or believe the clear assurances that I have given on the contents of the white paper and the government's plans for the Forest of Dean.

"Much of the speculation in the media is simply not true. For example, there are not and never have been any plans to sell off the Forest of Dean to developers who would cut down the Forest to replace it with recreation parks.

"All that has ever been proposed is whether a local not for profit organisation, a charitable trust, say, might be able to involve local people more closely in the ownership or management of the Forest of Dean. I think that is at least worth looking at.

"There is no plan to sell the Forest off to private developers."