NO matter what you say or how you dress it up with fancy rhetoric, the very idea of "selling off" and privatising our forest woodland in order to secure a short-term economic fix, strikes at the very heart of the ancient rights and traditions ingrained in the indigenous population of the Forest of Dean, as enjoyed by our forefathers and currently enjoyed by all residents in the locality and beyond.

The Forest of Dean, through the Forestry Commission, is a well-managed national asset and should not be put up for grabs, even in part, however many tongue-in-cheek assurances are churned out to justify such a proposal.

The principle and even contemplation of such a sale is so wrong and shortsighted, it is lamentable to hear that approximately half of the 1.85 million acres of nationally owned woodland managed by the commission is likely to be privatised. Incidentally, why is it that the Government is seeking to reform the Forestry Commission? Is this part of some larger agenda that we are not yet aware of?

Apparently, the power companies are lining up and eager to plunder our national forests in order to promote bio-mass power stations, which, incidentally, carry a heavy Government subsidy some say is justified by the carbon neutral effect created by burning wood chips and by so doing meeting 'climate change' targets.

Private ownership would effect an immediate loss of public control, choice and confidence inevitably resulting in forced acceptance of restrictions and controls not previously evident in the Dean.

Hand on heart assurances have always been, and, always will be eroded – it is the nature of things, since perceived economic rewards and profit will always win the day. So, the "thin end of the wedge" and "give an inch etc" rings very loud and clear in this particular 'sell off' situation. In all honesty, why else would anyone want to buy our forest woodland if not other than for perceived profit motives? Certainly not for the fun of it.

This issue has stirred up a hornets' nest, and rightly so, and I hope and pray that the collective voice of the Dean will be heeded and democratically accepted in order to protect and uphold the ancient rights, traditions and freedoms as per the status quo.

RN James

Lydney