A NEW organisation named Friends of the Forest is to be launch-ed at The Speech House this Thursday dedicated to winning Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty status for the Dean.

Dismayed at what they describe as the betrayal of the Forest, the new group says that without protection the area could become just another area "ruined by the sprawl of uncaring commercial, industrial and urban development."

They say the protection should be central to the Local Plan as a way to ensure that development is truly sus-tainable while retaining the unique quality and character of the district.

In a statement the new group says many people who attended the recent presentation by the Countryside Agency in Cinderford felt that they had yet again witnessed the betrayal of the Forest.

"The panel of speakers organised by the Countryside Agency could not satisfactorily explain why the Forest of Dean remains the only place in England yet to receive national protection from those previously earmarked for protection by the Countryside Commission," they say.

They quote Jonathan Wright of Clearwell Caves as saying: "We've been put aside so often. We desperately need protection here because we really are under threat from development."

District councillor Colin Smith said: "I grew up in the Forest of Dean and having attended the Countryside Agency meeting it is clear to me that the Forest needs protection now. We need AONB designation as the very minimum protection and that could be granted by the Countryside Agency in April."

Support has come from Anne Prufer, chairman of the Council for the Protection of Rural England (Forest of Dean District) who said: "The landscapes of the Forest of Dean are unique, whether standing in a quiet forest dell surrounded by mature oaks and carpets of bluebells or on the escarpments admiring the breathtaking views over the River Severn and River Wye or towards the vale of open farmland to Walmore Common and the north; their outstanding beauty matches any AONB area in England and desperately needs protection." •The Speech House meeting starts at 8pm.