IN his latest statement, as he has done throughout, MP Mark Harper refers only to the forthcoming Forestry White Paper and ignores the Public Bodies Bill.
It is the Public Bodies Bill, a piece of legislation currently on its passage through Parliament that will remove the special protection currently applied to the Forest of Dean.
In many regards, the imminent Forestry White Paper is a "red herring". Whatever the Government's immediate intentions are for the Forest of Dean, once our special protection is removed, our forest and our currently enjoyed privileges are vulnerable.
Mark Harper's current position is like that of a landlord who insists that the lock is removed from your front door so that he can gain access. He hasn't yet decided why he needs access. It might be to knick your new plasma TV or to allow in Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen to give the place a make-over. But don't worry, everything will be OK; trust me.
Mark, your constituents are not stupid. We want the door to remain locked. Our forest is not for sale.
Councillor Bruce Hogan
Labour and Co-operative Lydbrook and Ruardean
Labour Leader FODDC