TO the question 'have Flaxley woods been saved' a packed audience at Flaxley Schoolroom heard a resopuinding 'no' from Alan Robertson of HOOF.

In his opinion no woods have been saved outside the Statutory Forest (apart from three named contiguous woods)as the sale of woodlands is only temporarily halted while an independent panel prepares a report.

He said residents should write to the panel to say we need to retain the Public Forest Estate and the Forestry Commission as it is.

Phil Horsley, Chairman of Friends of Chestnuts Woods, said: "The situation is very reminiscent of the previous attempt to privatise public woodlands when Friends of Chestnuts Woods campaigned vigorously for the retention of Public woodlands and we will be doing so again.

"The first step will be to put together a report for Friends of Chestnuts Woods to present to the panel and any local resident wishing to be involved please telephone Mary Newton 01594 822079 or email mary @mknewton.plus.com"