Mark Garnier, MP for Wyre Forest, today speaks out for local heritage. Having received many e-mails and letters regarding the future of Wyre Forest, Mark is keen to explain what is going on and his position on this issue.
The campaign to 'save the forests' was launched by the 38 Degrees campaign before any facts had been issued. Since then, DEFRA have published a consultation document on the proposals for the future of the Forestry Commission estate and have made it absolutely clear that no proposals are set in stone.
The consultation will take three months, after which, and based on the feedback, a White Paper will be published on the Public Bodies Bill, to be debated later in the year.
On Wednesday this week, Labour will be holding an Opposition Day Debate on the future of the Forestry Commission Estate, but this has nothing to do with the Public Bodies Bill.
The public consultation on the future of the Public Forest Estate in England, published last Thursday by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman MP, confirms that heritage forests like the Wyre Forest is not for sale to private or commercial owners.
All that is being consulted on is a proposal to transfer the ownership or management of these heritage forests to a charity or charities, via a trust arrangement or lease. The transfer would be at no cost to the new owner.
However, in a response to questions put to the DEFRA by Mark Garnier MP, not all of the Wyre Forest is classified as heritage. There are certain areas that are classified multipurpose.
Under the proposals for multipurpose and commercial woodlands and forests, these may be leased, but the leases will contain strict criteria for access and usage.
Mark Garnier MP said: "The consultation proposals that have been published are detailed and reassuring. This confirms that there is no intention to sell Wyre Forest into commercial hands. However, this does give local groups the opportunity to take over the running of the forest for the benefit of the community if they so wish. With regard the multipurpose areas, should they be sold they will be sold under a lease with clear guidelines and restriction for use.
"Importantly, there are many laws surrounding access, rights of way, and planning and preservation that will protect the forest and the way we all use it.
"However, I do recognise that there are many people who are still not reassured by these assurances and laws, and who feel that the forests should remain in public ownership irrespective of access and preservation.
"This is a hugely emotive subject and we are just one week into a three month consultation period. There is a lot of misinformation being put around and it is important that we are discussing facts, not speculation. The vote on Wednesday is a motion put forward by Labour, who sold off 24,000 hectares of forestry whilst in government with none of the safeguards proposed by the Coalition. This is a distraction from the important process of clear headed thinking needed to take this forward. That is why I will be voting against Labour's motion, to make sure that we make the most of the consultation period.
"I am also very keen that people in Wyre Forest get a chance to put their views forward to the consultation and that they look at the detail before being tempted to make hasty judgements.
"Finally, I want to absolutely reassure people that I will not support any measures that will diminish the pleasure we all enjoy from the Wyre Forest. It is a much loved popular local resource and local residents need to both know, and be reassured by, the fact that I value this as much as anyone."
The Secretary of State, in her written statement to Parliament, also confirmed that the Government "will ensure that the powers in the Public Bodies Bill reflect our policy objectives, so that the powers and duties within it are strengthened to safeguard the natural and social capital our forests provide now and for future generations. This would apply to the powers of sale, lease and management of the public forest estate. The consultation proposes that conditions will be attached to leases so that access and other public benefits are protected."