CAMPAIGNERS against the Forest sell-off have been informed their voice is being heard loud and clear in the corridors of Westminster.

A deputation, organised by Forest of Dean District Council and led by Cllr Andrew Gardiner (Ind, Lydbrook and Ruardean), met with Baroness Jan Royall and Liberal Democrat co-chair of the Defra backbench committee, Lord Anthony Greaves, to press their case for an exemption in the Public Bodies Bill, to protect the Forest of Dean from sell-off.

Lord Greaves confirmed he was mustering support for the exemption and against all the Forestry clauses in the Bill, which could be debated either later this week or the next.

The deputation then had a working lunch with shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh, who told the group the HOOF campaign had made an impact in Parliament, as well as other forests' campaigns.

Finally, there was a meeting with Mark Harper. The Forest MP assured the group it would be "very happy" when it saw the Government's proposals. However, he would not agree – despite repeated calls – to support an exemption in the Public Bodies Bill.

He would only say: "The Public Forest Estate  is under discussion and the Public Bodies Bill isn't  going to be created in the next five minutes. There is a bit of time."

Legal expert Alan Robertson, who presented the issue, told Mr Harper: "If you take the Forest of Dean off the statute book you put it in danger, however benign the intentions of this Government. We are asking you and your Government to make sure the Forest of Dean is exempt. The  customary privileges which we  now enjoy could be lost. That is our fear. We cannot be reassured by any  decision other than the retention of the exemption."

Cllr Gardiner added: "Any alternative scenarios on the running of the Forest  are nonsensical. It takes generations to get something that is meaningful in terms of the knowledge that is needed to run a forest."

Both HOOF secretary Ian Standing and Cllr Bruce Hogan (Lab and Co-Op, Lydbrook and Ruardean) expressed concern about  any  charitable group running the Forest because of the £500,000 deficit they would have to manage along with liability.

"We don't see why something that works as well as it does should be changed," said Cllr Hogan.

Mr Harper said: "The questions raised here are perfectly valid ones. These will be dealt with by the consultation process.

"The only thing on the table is a charitable trust, whether it is a management or ownership trust.

"One of the questions we are asking ourselves is whether there is an alternative to  the Forestry Commission. Is there a way of  doing things better?

"I personally think they do a good job. But we are   looking at whether there is a way we could involve stakeholders."

Viscount  Bledisloe told the MP: "I don't see how any charitable trust can guarantee the continuation of the living entity that is the Forest of Dean. You are concentrating here on the consultation document and not the exemption for the Forest of Dean."

"The  danger is implicit. We need you to come on board quickly," implored Cllr Gardiner.

"I've noted what you say," was Mr Harper's reply.

The group was filmed arriving at Westminster by ITV Westcountry, and two BBC crews ­­– Countryfile and the Politics Show West.