woods (credit: saragoldsmith)
The proposed sell off of England’s Forestry Commission woodlands will be of no benefit to the majority of Britons. Turning over the woodlands to private hands will put profitability over the needs of it’s current users. Privatisation in Britain does not have a good track record…. trains, electricity, gas, water have all seen massive over inflation prices rises for users as the companies seek to maximise profit for their shareholders.
It will be no different for woodlands and forests. There will be protection put in place for the first few years but then the companies will be left to maximise profits with no consideration for the public. A lot of these sites will be turned into private hunting and shooting estates for those who have the money. Friends and family of Cameron and Clegg will reap the benefits as they have the money to enter the estates. For the rest of us though our access to the estates will be greatly reduced. I give it no more than 3 or 4 years before the new owners start to submit plans to re-route public footpaths and rights of ways along the periphery of the estates and protect the interior of the estate for it’s members and paying members of the public.
Expect to see substantial increases in prices for car parking, fishing, camping. Expect to see admission charges to become common place to enjoy the countryside that used to be in public hands and free to experience and enjoy.
The government claims that it can not afford to look after the woodlands and it needs to reduce spending. But are they actually going to save any money? One of the biggest selling points that will be made to those who can afford to buy this land is the tax breaks that accompany owning woodland and forestry. I very much doubt that this selling off to the private sector will be of any financial benefit to the country.
You could also argue whether it is right that during this time of cuts and tax rises for the average person that this government should be offering the rich and super rich yet another tax avoidance scheme to take advantage of. But I guess the bankers have to spend this year bonuses somewhere and where better than tax avoidance woodlands.
We need to understand that this sell off of Forestry Commission lands – about 18% of England’s woodlands – will result in a large number of those woodlands being closed to the public within 15years. Those estates will be turned over to making money and a £5 car park charge is not going to compete with £1,000 a day corporate or private shooting or fishing party. This sell off is simply the first stage of the reestablishment of new ‘Royal Hunting Parks’ where the public are excluded from the preserve of the wealthy.
Campaigners against the plans proclaim that they have hundred of thousands of supports who have signed an online petition. Well I’m sorry but anyone can click a button. Real support for the woodlands will have to take the form of demonstrations in the streets and writing actual letters. Being an arm chair protester is not going to stop the plans of this government. The only way is to get up and fight for the woodlands. Even then there’s no guarantee of overturning this vested interest plan of the Tories and libdems.
Obviously there’s no guarantee of success with demonstrations – I was involved with road protests during the 1990′s – but if people are not willing to take any more effort than click a web page button then the government will take that apathy as reason to continue with it’s plans to privatise some of the most accessible and beautiful wildlife spots in England.
