James Duddridge, Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East has issued a statement in relation to the Consultation on the future of the public forest estate
James said
“I have recently been contacted by a large number of constituents in relation to the consultation on the future of the public forest estate.”
“A number of the issues and concerns raised have been addressed once the facts have been clarified. I am hopeful that by disbelling the myths and clarifying the facts this will offer some reassurance to my constituents.""
""I would also like to urge constituents of Rochford and Southend East to ensure that they provide feedback and engage with the consultation which is currently underway by visiting www.defra.gov.uk”
Fact:
One – we are consulting on proposals to create a new Heritage Forest status whereby our most precious national assets are given over to charitable trusts giving them far greater levels of protection and financial security than they have ever had.
Two – we are proposing to uprate protections for public access and other public benefits massively by replacing the freehold sales which took place under the last government and instead moving to leaseholds providing better protection for access and other public benefits.
Three – we are proposing to give community groups and civic organisations the opportunity to own or manage their local forests if they wish. Why shouldn’t they have that option?
Four – we are opening up the commercial functions of the Forestry Commission to other operators on a leasehold basis so that their commercial potential is realised alongside the need to protect public benefits.
Five – we are refocusing the work of the Forestry Commission so that rather than having expertise and resources taken up with commercial activities which need not be done by government, instead they can focus on research into combating the challenges of new tree diseases, maintaining and enforcing access rights, providing expert advice, giving grants and discharging its duty as regulator.
Fiction:
One - Labour claims we “plan to sell the forests for short-term gain”.
In fact we are proposing to end the previous government’s policy of ‘selling off’ and replace it with ‘leasing’ – specifically to secure access rights for all – including horse riders, cyclists and other recreational users.
Two - Labour claims it is “environmental vandalism”.
In fact we are putting in place more environmental safeguards than existed before, this includes a once in a generation opportunity to accelerate the recovery of Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites, and to enforce replanting in other woodlands.
Three - Labour claims that people will turn up at their woods to locked up and gated off.
In fact the case to which her Party leader has consistently referred – Rigg Wood – was put up for sale by her own government – in April 2010. We, on the other hand, will be guaranteeing access and public benefit rights, through terms of the leases.
Four - Labour claims to be “leading the fight against these plans”.
Just months before the General Election Labour was already laying its own plans for disposing of the Public Forestry Estate.
Labour’s Operational Efficiency Programme: Asset Portfolio of December 2009 explicitly sets out the case for “long term leases” of the Public Forestry Estate.
Labour’s Operation Efficiency Programme: Final Report of April 2009 sets out the case for getting greater “commercial benefit” from the Public Forestry Estate.
Labour’s “Strategy for Englands Trees, Woods and Forests” of June 2007 sets out the case for “local communities actively participating in ownership and management”.