WE understand that Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) is now intent on selling the Wilderness Centre at Plump Hill to the highest bidder and have actually begun the process.

This is a huge folly on the part of the council. The amount of money gained from the sale will be a mere drop in the ocean compared to the long term loss to the Forest of Dean community in particular.

We appreciate that local government finances are in a poor state, but this decision will produce only a minute, short-term financial receipt at the expense of incredible long-term returns to the county and its citizens in the forms of education, health and wellbeing.

We really do believe that both present and future citizens of the Forest of Dean and the whole of Gloucestershire will never forgive the council if it fails to work with community groups to protect the heritage of the county.

We look to our councillors to have vision, and to act as guardians of our heritage, and advocates for the interests of future generations.

We wonder how many councillors really do know about the Wilderness Centre and its outstanding work?

How many have ever been there? How many have ever spoken to any of the thousands of people who have benefitted from its educational work over the last half century? How many know about the fragile ecological treasures that are located there?

We also wonder how many residents are aware of the plans to sell the Wilderness Centre and have been consulted by their councillor/s?

Once sold this much-valued educational facility and heritage site will be lost forever. The children of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and surrounding areas will have sadly lost an opportunity to experience the natural world and understand its place in the future of our society.

If children are not taught about the natural world there will be no-one to teach our grandchildren either.

The county's priceless built and natural treasures are held in trust on our behalf by those we elect.

Financial pressures may lead them to decide that they are no longer in the business of environmental education but this can be no excuse for denying others in the community, who are willing and able to do so, the chance to take it on.

We would ask GCC to consider the following:

There would appear to be some conflict or misunderstanding between central and local government thinking in GCC.

The Localism Bill which was introduced by the existing government to encourage the Big Society to take responsibility for itself, also local communities to organise and look after their own facilities and affairs, appears to have been overlooked or fallen on deaf ears in GCC. and as a result we believe that there is justification for GCC to reconsider the disposal of the Wilderness Centre, by transferring it to a community group with appropriate expertise and who are interested in its future for the right reason.

– Jean and John Birkett, Soudley.