Anyone got a couple of million quid to spare to buy us Haldon forest????
UK government proposing sale of public forests to raise money, drawing ire from nature lovers
By The Associated Press (CP) 32 minutes ago
LONDON Some of England's best-loved and oldest public forests could be sold off to private companies under government plans proposed Thursday.
The proposed sale could raise up to 250 million pounds ($399 million) for the government, but it provoked ire and horror from nature lovers who say the move would damage wildlife and shut out walkers and cyclists from the woodlands.
English forests have been state-controlled since World War I, but officials say it's time the state stepped back and let others take care of the forests.
"There's no reason for the government to be in the business of timber production and forest management," Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said.
The government now owns and manages about 18 per cent of England's woodlands, which cover a total of 2,500 square kilometres (617,763 acres) of land.
Under the proposed changes, commercially valuable forests would be transferred to private operators under 150-year lease holds.
Officials stressed that potential buyers won't all be profit-making entities. Community groups will be given priority to buy or lease forests, they said, and "heritage forests" with a long history will be managed by charities with financial assistance from the government.
"Walkers, riders and cyclists will still be able to enjoy them as they do at the moment," the proposal said.
Despite the assurances, celebrities including actress Judi Dench, singer Annie Lennox and writer Bill Bryson have led a campaign against the move. They're worried that volunteer foresters or private companies won't be able to strike the right balance between public needs, conservation and timber demands, and the group said more than 250,000 people had signed its online petition against the proposed sales.
Prime Minister David Cameron's office said public fears were misplaced, and insisted that people have a chance to voice their opinions during the public consultation.
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Caution - the poster may well have been drinking........
Perhaps no small coincidence that the Gov'ts renewable energy targets have led to significant subsidisation, by way of tariff and obligation certificates, of renewable energy power plants (green???).
A signficant categrory within which is Biomass fuelled plant - much of the current commercial but non gov't owned forests are controlled by relatively few people who are looking to fill their boots with moolah as it dawns on investors there ain't enough fuel for the biomass plants that are currently being commissioned across the UK to take advantage of favourable tariffs set by HMRC - have a look at Spanish countryside development such as the Rioja valley in the past 15 years if you want to see how qickly and badly inappropriate use of fiscal incentives to promote a popular agenda can mess things up
Coherent energy policy - pah Coherent land use policy - pah All short term gain leading to long term detriment......rant rant rant
Where's my Dylan and Joni Mitchell albums man....
-- Edited by PeterBc on Thursday 27th of January 2011 08:25:46 PM
At the last official tree count the number of trees in the UK is up on the previous count. Sounds like we're not particularly short on trees here in the UK. We are a bit limited on free land to build on, and agricultural land though. Just say'in....
Prime Minister David Cameron's office said public fears were misplaced, and insisted that people have a chance to voice their opinions during the public consultation.
Roll on the next General Election then!!! CONDEMS OUT will be the SHOUT?
"Bubba - It don't matter who you vote for boy: A governingment is gonna get in and decide your taxes. So you'd just better learn to bend and stoop boy. Just like that goddam finglestein****kid. "
When boy; When? Are you gonna get your act together.
-- Edited by PeterBc on Friday 28th of January 2011 10:32:47 PM
