91Èȱ¬

Government plans to sell off forests have led to protests among local communities and their MPs.

The Coalition government has already experienced some pretty strident opposition to their plans on tuition fees, the NHS and cuts.

But could their biggest battle yet prove to be over England's forests?

They certainly seem to have stirred something up in communities by proposing the sale of many of our publicly-owned woodlands.

And it is not just Opposition MPs and supporters who are unhappy. Some of the protesting politicians are ones you would see as natural Coalition supporters.

Take .

A new arrival in the Commons last year, he has proved a loyal backbencher and a Coalition fan.

But rather than vote with the Government, he abstained in this week's debate about its plans to sell off forests.

And he spoke passionately about his concerns - warning that the plans could threaten the "enchanting" which forms such a large part of his Northumberland constituency.

He fears a sale to the private sector could jeopardise a carefully-constructed 25-year development plan which would put money into the local economy and create vital jobs.

Mr Opperman's constituency mail bag is already bulging with letters of concern, and you could .

And perhaps his concern isn't surprising. His constituency includes the largest expanse of forest in England - almost 50,000ha in total. That's three times as much as any other MP.

And there are plenty of other politicians in the North East and Cumbria who might also be worried because of the large stretches of woodland in their patches - indeed 11 of the 50 most-forested constituencies in England are in the region.

Some Cumbrian MPs are concerned about the impact of any sell-off on the Lake District's forests.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP has 4,870ha, including the much-loved . He voted against the plans this week.

Berwick constituency includes 8,673 hectares. He abstained.

also abstained. She has around 10,000ha in her area.

And some of the leading Labour opponents of the plans have sizeable sections of woodland in their constituencies.

has 2,801ha of forest in her seat. .

Cumbrian MPs (Workington) and (Copeland) also have large bits of Lake District woodland in their areas, and duly voted against any sell-off.

Others though appear less concerned.

(woodland hectareage 11,624) voted in favour, as did (6,284ha), (1.398ha) and (1,345ha). All are Conservatives.

There have already been public protests in forests large - - and small - Chopwell Woods in Gateshead - and we are only just beginning this process.

The Government insist opponents of the plans have been scaremongering.

They say they are merely consulting at this stage to find more efficient and better ways of managing forests.

But they insist public access will be protected and any sell-off won't become a loggers' charter.

They say the most important woodlands would remain under the ownership of the if bidders couldn't convince them they would be protected.

And they hope as many community groups as private firms could take up the opportunity of owning their local forests.

The opponents aren't convinced though.

Figures uncovered by the 91Èȱ¬'s Newsnight suggest only a fraction of the forests would be likely be sold off to local people, leaving private firms to snap up the rest.

Opponents fear that could threaten the ecology and acessibility of woodlands.

Whatever the rights and wrongs though, the Government's plans do seem to be worrying their own MPs and some of their own natural supporters in the countryside.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?