The Government is dropping controversial plans to sell off England’s publicly owned forests.
Environment Secretary
Caroline Spelman is expected to announce the U-turn either today or tomorrow. Instead, the Government is to announce the creation of a new panel of experts to look at public access to
forests and
biodiversity issues.
The Government launched a public consultation about the future of 258,000 hectares of land managed by the Forestry Commission last month. But the consultation, which was due to end in April, has caused such a huge public outcry that Spelman and the Government are now facing what some commentators are describing as a "humiliating U-turn".
David Cameron indicated he was not happy with the sell-off at Prime Minister’s Question Time yesterday.
Public opposition
Under the sell-off proposals, charities, private companies and landowners could have owned portions of the forest. But charities and other groups were concerned over the loss of ancient woodlands, such as the New Forest and the Forest of Dean, and the
biodiversity that could be lost if they aren’t managed properly. They were also worried they would not be able to afford to purchase the woodlands they wish to preserve themselves.
One public petition, launched by pressure group 38 Degrees, amassed over half a million signatures so strong was the public condemnation of the plans.
Increasing pressure
The sale of Forestry Commission land would have raised millions of pounds for the Government at a time when departments, such as Defra, are facing huge cuts. But Spelman’s handling of the matter is being viewed as embarrassing for the Government, which is coming under increasing criticism for trying to make too many decisions too hastily.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is being accused of bungling a review into the Feed-in Tariff, the subsidy scheme to incentivise the take-up of small-scale
renewable energy generation. There is mounting opposition among businesses to the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme, which has been turned into a carbon tax by the Treasury. And business group the CBI this week told Government its flagship Green Deal
policy risked becoming a "lame duck".
In face of the mounting pressure, the Prime Minister is, according to reports, setting up a new policy unit, appointing a new director of communications and a hiring a director of strategy.
It is not clear yet how the change of policy on publicly-owned forests will affect the sale of 15 per cent of Forestry Commission land announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review. Last week, Defra announced it was temporarily suspending this sale while it conducted a review into the sale criteria.
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