Government’s forestry proposals are ‘barking up the wrong tree’, says TUC

Major Oak in Sherwood Forest

Government proposals announced today (Thursday) to sell off England’s forests and woodlands to private companies or transfer them to charitable trusts could make it much harder for the public to enjoy the countryside, leave charities out of pocket, and will raise little revenue from the public purse, says the TUC. Commenting on the publication of the consultation document on the future ownership of woodlands like Sherwood Forest and the Forest of Dean, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said:
“The government is barking up the wrong tree with these proposals. Quite rightly public alarm is growing at the privatisation of our most treasured natural assets.
“People appreciate the way our forests are managed for the nation by the professional staff of the Forestry Commission. Volunteer foresters or private companies won’t do the job as well and the careful balance between timber, public amenity, bio-diversity and conservation will be lost.
“Everyone who lives or works in our forests, or simply enjoys walking in our woodlands, will want to join with environment, community and trade union campaigners to resist these ill-thought out ideas.”

UNISON campaign to protect Nottinghamshire's Country parks

The Major Oak in Sherwood Forest

Notts County Council claims it has to cut £186 million from its budget over the next four years. They plan to make over three thousand County Council employees redundant – a huge blow not only to those individuals who stand to lose their livelihood, but to the services they provide and to the Nottinghamshire economy as a whole.
The country parks’ budget is being particularly badly affected. Amongst the County Council’s proposals for the future of this service are:
• A cut of 47%, nearly half, of the current budget
• The abolition of the park rangers’ service entirely
• Their replacement with a reduced number of unskilled park wardens
The implications of these cuts will be devastating if allowed to go ahead. Many of the activities at the parks will simply have to end. Health and safety will be greatly compromised, and an increase in anti-social behaviour is inevitable with such vastly reduced staffing levels. Staff who work at the parks have queried whether or not the council will even manage to meet basic legal obligations in some areas. Workers at Bestwood Country Park have told us that the Council’s proposed axing of the budget will mean that Bestwood will effectively be “mothballed”.
If you haven’t done so already, please consider doing the following:

• Take part in Nottinghamshire County Council’s online budget consultation which closes Friday 21 January 2011. The section including the budget proposals for country parks can be found at http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/thecouncil/budgetproposals/communities/?assetdetesctl1980952=55856.
• Contact your local County Councillor and/or MP with your objections. You can find your County Councillor at: http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/your_council/councillorsandtheirrole/councillors/whoisyourcllr.htm. Alternatively, ‘phone the Council on (0115) 9823823 and say you want to know your local County Councillor’s details.
• Come to the demonstration UNISON is planning on 24 February to coincide with the council meeting which sets the budget for the next financial year. Further details will be available nearer the time from the Notts UNISON website: http://www.nottsunison.org.uk/