FOREST MP Mark Harper has announced that he will meet the public tomorrow evening in Coleford.

It will be the first time he has faced his electorate since news of plans to sell off Britain's forests was leaked through a national newspaper in October.

The meeting is due to take place at The Main Place from 7-8pm.

"When this issue first arose in late October I discussed it with the Ministers resp- onsible for the policy to make sure they were aware of the importance of protecting the Forest of Dean," said Mr Harper.

"However, having establ- ished that the Government had no intention of doing anything to damage the Forest of Dean, as a Minister I was not able to set out details or answer questions until my colleagues had finalised the Government's proposals on which they are now consulting and announced them to Parliament.

"Now that they have and my constituents have had a chance to look at exactly what the Government is proposing I am in a position where I can have a proper discussion with local people about this issue and I hope that's what takes place on Friday evening."

Following the publication of last week's White Paper, HOOF campaigners have underlined that they oppose the Government's plan to transfer the Dean's woodlands from being managed by the Forestry Commission to a charity.

"We are resolute in our conviction that no one is better qualified to run our Forest, to protect our unique customs and achieve the balance between a working forest and public amenity, than the Forestry Com- mission," said chairman Rich Daniels.

"While all organisations, including the Forestry Commission, should be seeking improvement, we believe no trust, charity or other organisation, however benevolent, can guarantee the access and freedom of the woods we all enjoy today, nor safeguard the Forest for the future. Contrary to some claims, we do not believe our battle has been won, as we do not have any guarantee that our Forest will not be sold."

At a meeting of the HOOF steering group on Monday it was decided unanimously to stick to the objective: ensuring the Forest of Dean is protected from any sale – whether by this Government or a future administration – with an exemption in the Public Bodies Bill.

Clauses 17 and 18 in the Bill, which deal with public forestry, are likely to be debated at the end of the month in the House of Lords.

Members will be inviting other forest campaign groups to a national protest convention on February 26 in the Dean with the purpose of coming up with a national response to the consultation document.

Yesterday, shadow environ- ment secretary Mary Creagh led a debate in the Commons on the future of England's public forests.