A MOTION to give another six months for consultation on the bid to get Biosphere status for the Forest has been passed by district councillors.

But supporters say given the deadline for an application to be made to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and looming local government reorganisation, the motion effectively kills the application.

A motion by Cllr Bernie O’Neill (Progressive Independents, Ruspidge) to “pause” the process was passed by 19 votes to 17 at the meeting of the full council last Thursday (May 21).

An amendment put the Green administration to give an extra four months for consultation instead of six was defeated on the casting vote of council Chair Di Martin (Lab, Cinderford ).

The main point of disagreement centred on the amount of consultation that has taken place.

Putting the motion, Cllr O’Neill said: “Local people are not objecting because they are unreasonable – they are objecting because they had not been properly consulted or properly informed.

Cllr Sid Phelps (Green, Lydbrook) said: “The mover of the motion knows full well…we will fail to make the application in time and the application will not be made in any successor organisation.”