The achievements made in 2011 by the Hoof Campaign

and the district council's delegation to London will be

rendered void and meaningless if the council, backed

by MP Mark Harper, is allowed to sell off the beautiful

lakeside woodlands. The result of the sale would

permanently change the open community  aspect around

Steam Mills, turning it into an urbanised, traffic-congested

area with warehousing and houses.  

The current proposal for a phased enclosure  of

nearly 200 acres is a kick in the teeth for the Bishop of

Liverpool and his Independent Forestry Panel (IFP) who

have strongly and clearly recommended action that is

effectively opposite to that of the district council. In my

capacity as Forest Champion, I simply cannot support the

Cabinet, or be party to their underhand sale of our Forest

lands.

Only  last year, the district council unanimously

resolved to map and extend heritage designation and

woodland cover across the Forest of Dean. This

agreement became enshrined  in the Independent Forestry

Panel's final report to the Government to extend woodland

cover.

However, it now appears that what the Council is

proposing is deceitful and hypocritical – just one year on.

Furthermore, having asked me to serve this whole

term of the council  as Forest Champion without any

conditions, they are now – already – proposing to

withdraw my role, despite my close association with Forest

matters since the 1981 Forestry Exemption proceedings.

I sincerely believe that this is a shallow and vindictive

 move by the Conservatives and  MP Mark Harper to

dishonour my work with the Forest communities who

recognise my role as Forest Champion across the Dean.

I have dedicated my whole Council term of office to

the protection of the Forest of Dean and its residents who

elected me  to continue working  tirelessly to prevent the

selling off of our Forest birthright and traditions so that

we can all retain our culture and way of life.

– Andrew Gardiner, Ruardean.