HAVING attended the debates organised by Dean Forest Voice to inform the public of what I believe to be the Labour Government's intention to change tracts of the 'Statutory Forest' from woodland to concrete, I feel compelled to record my thoughts.
These initial moves have been endorsed by Diana Organ MP and the majority of the Labour county and district councillors. They appear to be trying to justify their stance by citing schemes such as the Cinderford Arc.
Do they not realise that this is a dangerous precedent that will open a loophole for developers to get their hands on one of the last great public sanctuaries in England? It is a fallacy for the Forestry to justify the loss of woodland by claiming they will compensate by planting trees on other land. This is nonsense because the Dean Forest still loses out to development.
We must be highly suspicious of what's really behind the scenes when councillors and civil servants take time out to rubbish Richard Daniels and the views of the Dean Forest Voice. Richard is a most competent and knowledgeable man and deserves better from the Labour Party and offending civil servants. After all, isn't he simply doing what councillors have been elected to do, ie preserve the Forest?
When the Conservatives brought in a crude plan to sell off the Dean, it was at least done in the public arena. At that time, public concern for the Dean obtained an exemption that prohibited large-scale selling of Forestry land. Now we have a much more subtle plan to exploit the small print of the Forestry Land Exchange. If these moves establish a precedent, then the Statutory Forest will be sacrosanct no more.
One can identify with the three local councillors who spoke at the latest debate held in Cinderford because they were representing their electorate by promoting a bypass around Steam Mills in order to open up the industrial estate. However, having tried my best to promote this bypass, I know from experience that this will only be achieved when our county and district councillors decide to recognise this desperately needed road as highest of priorities.
What we do know is that no matter who's in power in local government, there will soon be another housing quota on the table and once again the other county districts will be doing their best to channel new town proposals into the Forest. Let's avoid the situation we recently had in Tutshill and Sedbury when we almost destroyed our heritage during the last Structure Plan. Having signed away their heritage, the majority of county and district councillors followed the party line and did nothing. For that enquiry I produced over 5,000 pieces of paper opposing the plan. Although it turned out to be a totally thankless task, it was nice to have contributed to the future of the Dean.
Finally, may I offer a warning to all those who 'have the Forest at heart': please don't be tempted to sell the 'family silver' because behind all the platitudes and offers of immediate salvation, lies a hidden route to negative 'housing economy.' Let us not be tempted along a path that will ultimately be the demise of the last green sanctuary of ancient woodland in England. – Andrew Gardiner, district councillor, Ruardean.