REGARDING the threat of a sell-off of our Forest of Dean woodlands it will be totally opposed by the people of this unique area.

This Forest will not be owned by anyone, it must not be allowed ownership by large consortiums who would trample all before them with only an eye on profit.

The talk of profit from timber sales occupies many people's topic of conversation. Beware, there is more than one ball being passed on this field, don't forget the profits from mineral extraction. We do not want another large stone quarry possibly following the pillaging of a former timber area.

In either case access will be restricted or even totally denied. The Forestry Commission have managed our woodlands for many years and generally find approval of their work within this area. Sell-off would dramatically curtail our freedom to roam or maybe a permit system would be put in place, either way this is a non-runner.

After any possible timber felling, large pleasure park businesses may well become established – we don't want them here. We already have our biggest sustainable and acceptable earner for this area, namely tourism. This will be compromised at a single stroke if this sell-off is allowed to take place.

So, all Foresters, whether by birth or those who have made the Forest their home, stand up and be counted now. And to Mark Harper and his overlords in government – hands off our Forest or look out.

I am a born Forester, founder member of the heritage protection group, Dean Forest Voice, and a free quarryman. I will do whatever it takes to protect the Forest from these absurd proposals.

– Gerald Morgan, Coleford.