Hull MP opposes sell-off of England's forests

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has called on the Government to think again about controversial plans that could see England's woodlands sold off to the highest bidder.

Government proposals currently being discussed in Parliament will give Ministers the green light to sell off the public forestry estate in England. The Forestry Commission is responsible for over 1,400 woodlands in England, including well-known forests such as Dalby Forest, Sherwood, the Forest of Dean and Kielder.

The legislation allowing the Government to dispose of all of English woodland is already in the House of Lords, in the Public Bodies Bill. More than 360,000 people have signed a petition against the Tory-led Government's plans, the largest such campaign since the General Election.

Labour has launched a new website www.thislandisourland.org.uk to keep people updated on the campaign to protect England's forests. Diana Johnson was one of the Labour MPs voting against the sell-off in the House of Commons today (2 February).

Diana Johnson MP said: "Many Hull North people have contacted me to express their opposition to the Coalition Government's plans to rush through the sale of our national forests, with no guarantees over their funding or public access.

"With most woodland in England already in private hands this would leave none owned by the nation.

"We need to keep our public forests open for everyone and ensure that they remain in place for future generations to enjoy. I am not against working with wildlife and environmental groups to improve the maintenance of these woodlands, but I am against dangerous plans that would sacrifice so much in return for raising such a small amount of money for the public purse on a one-off basis.

"There are 21,800 hectares of Forestry Commission land in Yorkshire and Humber. These are well-used, much loved local woods. Labour wants the Government to listen to the protests and think again on these privatisation plans that go beyond anything tried by Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s."

Shadow Environment Secretary, Mary Creagh said: "The Tory-led Government plan to sell off England's forests is an act of environmental vandalism. Their proposals will destroy the funding system which has protected England's forests for nearly 100 years.

"Private companies will cherry pick sites for commercial development and voluntary groups will be left to look after ancient woodlands without a budget. The true value of England's forests will never be reflected in the price the Tory-led government gets from selling them."

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