Friday, 11 February 2011 00:00

A commercial perspective

Delamere Forest is instrumental to the running of several businesses. Tony Buckman of Tracs (UK) Ltd voices his concerns that if the Public Bodies Bill does go through it could ultimately lead to his company's demise...

"This facility offers members of the public the opportunity to hire bicycles and explore the trails in and around Delamere Forest. The business  offers cycle repairs and a bike wash for facility for the cycling public. We also offer Cycle skills training (off and on road) and many youth groups, schools and colleges come out to Delamere Forest and hire cycles together with an Instructor and benefit from using the trails which are currently managed by the Forestry Commission. As a business we attract visitors to the area and have a good working relationship with the Forestry Commission.

If the Forest is sold to the private sector then access to the Forest may change substantially – At present there is no remit for the protection of access rights for cyclists or horse riders under CRoW (Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000) – it applies only to access on foot – the Forestry Commission goes beyond this, actively promoting access to all cyclists and horse riders – providing car parks, tracks and signage.

Delamere Forest is not a Heritage forest, it falls under the Multi-purpose forest and woodlands group.  (as per consultation)

1) Would have first options to Community or civil society as a right to buy or lease – this would be at Market value

2) If no community or civil society group took up the option it would be open to private bidders.

If this goes through and Delamere Forest  s sold off,  whilst we may have access on foot which could be limited – some doubt remains as to whether cyclists or horse riders  would retain the access they enjoy now.

I fail to see the sense in handing over the country’s forest assets to the private sector when the Forestry Commission are the experts in integrated forest management (recreation, timber production and bio diversity management.

There is no obligation on private landowners to address the issue of wildlife conservation (biodiversity), indeed encouragement is usually in the form of a government grant!

The Forestry Commission have 90 years experience in land management – Delamere forest has over 145 Meres and Mosses which are of both British and European importance.

I am concerned both as a member of the public and as a  businessman that those protections and use of the forest remain as they are, or that there is some form of guarantee that they were to remain so"

Tony Buckman

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2 Comments

  1. Fiona Goodier makes this comment

    12 February 2011

    We have fantastic facilities at the forest for us all to use including the bike hire at Tracs which allows people to venture into the woods and enjoy a great day out whilst doing some fitness. We need reassurances from the government that access to sold woodland would still allow access on bikes and horses. Support TRACS, support our campaign to Save Delamere Forest.

  2. Lynne makes this comment

    12 February 2011

    I agree completely with Tony. So many businesses in this are depend on the visitors to the forest. How many come for a walk and stop for Sunday lunch at one of the pubs? Or pick up snacks and papers from Delamere Stores, we will lose these local businesses without the revenue from visitors. All of the local places hire local people, there will be a lot more than the Forestry workers losing their jobs. Has the government factored paying benefit to these people into the cost of selling the forests? I doubt it. How can it make sense to throw tax payers out of work and then have to support their families? Just let them keep their jobs, doing the good work they do. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

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