SPECULATION that the coalition government is about to announce a sell-off of half the Forestry Commission's lands in England has caused widespread alarm in the Forest.

It has already been described as a "disaster" by the Commoners' Association and the Forestry Commission union has vowed to fight to stop the sale of a single acre.

The Forestry Commission's estate in the Dean runs to 26,000 acres and includes both the Statutory Forest and the boundaries leading out to the Wye Valley and up towards the Severn – these are assumed to be the most vulnerable and most saleable. This might even include the new multi-million pound Bracelands cabin site only opened last week.

The leak, to The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, is being taken very seriously by the Forestry Commission Union.

The Commission's Trade Union Secretary, Allan Mackenzie, told the Review: "No ministerial announcement has been made, but we do believe the sources are reliable. Our position is to oppose any land sale of any Forestry Commission estate anywhere in the country.

"We understand they're looking at any valuable estate to offset the deficit. It will mean the sale of the most valuable assets, recreational assets to entrepreneurs and to people who may want to buy woodland and will then fence it off to restrict public access.

"The Forests are in public ownership, they are owned by you and me, they provide jobs and industry and I think the public should be given a say on the future of forest land in England."

Mick Holder, Secretary of the Commoners' Association in the Forest said he felt let down and attacked from behind yet again.

He said if the news was correct then any sell-off was contrary to reassurances he and the commoners had received time and time again.

Mr Holder said the right of pasture had been granted by Royal charter and cemented in a 2001 agreement. He said the association would resist "in every possible way" any attempt to sell off even an inch of ground.

Phil Morton, head of the Forestry Commission in the Dean is in an uncomfortable position, knowing he can say nothing until a ministerial statement is made.

He told the Review: "We have been told that the details of the government's strategic approach to the Forestry Commission in England will be set out later in the autumn. Meantime it is business as usual."

This was confirmed by regional press spokes­man, Stuart Burgess.

Forest MP Mark Harper's office said he would be unwilling to quote on any speculation in the media.

• The Review understands there is a meeting at the Forestry Commission Management Training Centre at Prosper Lane, Coalway at 6.30pm on November 11 to discuss the 'future direction of the Forestry Commission's work in the Dean".