Group opposes Government sale of Shropshire woodland

The Shropshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England has said it opposes the sale of 30 woodland areas throughout the county and has called for any sales to have conditions.

Areas of woodland affected by the Government's planned sale of Forestry Commission estates include Haughmond Hill, near Shrewsbury, and Mortimer Forest, near Ludlow.

Union representatives said sales of the forest to private businesses could affect 12 jobs across the county.

All of Shropshire's woodland is currently slated to be sold for small-scale commercial purposes.

The sites could be sold off in the next financial year or in the year 2014 to 2015, but the list of forests up for sale this year will be announced by April 1.

The consultation, which runs until April 21, defines small commercial use as using the forest for timber production and sporting opportunities.

A spokeswoman for Shropshire CPRE said: "We are opposed to the proposed sell-off. We will study the consultation document and propose the following recommendations.

"It is important to CPRE that any sale will have conditions. Sold land must remain open so all existing Rights of Way can be used - the public must be allowed to use woodland paths under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act."

She said new owners should have to agree to replanting trees before getting a felling licence and replanting with native species should be encouraged.

She said any woods in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have special protection and said CPRE wanted all existing visitor centres and car parks to remain.

Steve Holdsworth, Union representative for Forestry Commission workers, said: "We are absolutely opposed to the way the consultation has gone out. The document is particularly long-winded, very complicated and within it, there isn't even an option of keeping the Forestry Commission in place. Recent studies show that 85 per cent of people wanted the Forestry Commission left alone."

Caroline Spelman, Environment Secretary, said: "State control of forests dates back to the First World War. There's now no reason for the Government to be in the business of timber production and forest management.

"We want to move from a 'Big Government' approach to a 'Big Society' one, so that we can give different groups - individuals, businesses and civil society organisations - the opportunity to be involved in managing the natural environment. And we will make sure that public access is maintained and biodiversity protected."

By Hannah Costigan