RESIDENTS in Coalway have been canvassed by their MP on 'an opportunity to own our Forest'.

Mark Harper approached villagers and delivered pamphlets which stated: "Instead of bureaucrats based in London telling us how to run the Forest, the Government's plans open the door for local people to take charge of our Forest and decide how it's managed... I think the opportunity to own and control our Forest locally is not one we should give up lightly and I'd like your opinion on this'.

Resident Siamak Alimi told the MP he opposed any sell-off: "Mark and his entourage looked rattled by the strength of feeling from local people. He called our reaction 'hysterical' and invited me to wait for the White Paper before jumping to conclusions."

Felicity Greenman, also from Coalway, said: "I spent 10 minutes telling him how vehemently I oppose any sell-off, and how on earth can the community run it?"

The Dean's Forestry chief, deputy surveyor Kevin Stannard, confirmed that although he follows Government guidelines, "within that framework, the local interpretation and implementation of that guidance is very much down to me and my team".

This includes "what works for the people, wildlife and trees that make up the Dean".