Thursday's Letters: Forest plans threaten jobs by putting leisure uses at risk

Government plans to sell off up to 30 forests and woodlands across the Lake District could easily spell the end to some of Britain's best-loved mountain bike rides if they go through – and endanger British jobs in the process.

Under the management of the Forestry Commission we, the British public, have enjoyed free access to walk or run, orienteer, climb, cycle, horse ride, bird watch, picnic and simply relax in its woodlands. Recent figures show that there are 40 million visits to these woodlands each year. But there are no guarantees that any public access, except to walk, will be kept after the woods are sold off.

The Commission's success in providing access to walkers and mountain bikers alike generates millions each year, providing a valuable income to those living in rural areas.

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And the mountain bike industry itself is a multi-million affair, generating a substantial contribution to the Government coffers. Companies such as ours – Shutt VR – create UK jobs as suppliers and manufacturers of cycling clothing so we are angered at this ill-considered threat to a fast-growing sport that is enjoyed by thousands.

But this threat does not halt at the Lake District. Their proposals, which are out for consultation, detail measures to dispose of up to 100 per cent of England's public forest estate over the next 10 years. And that would include the Yorkshire forests such as Dalby Forest which have miles of mountain bike tracks.

Already the Government is committed to selling 15 of the public forest estates to raise up to 100m.

Yet Forestry Commission only costs 10m a year to carry out its regulatory and conservation work because its work is subsidised by sales of timber.

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The Government's thinking on this is also counter to most responsible countries.

Only 18 per cent of England's forests are owned by the public compared to an average of 30 per cent in the European Union as a whole. The United States Forest Service also manages a massive 193 million acres of public forests.

The issue is urgent. Although the consultation has only just started, legislation currently being debated in Parliament will give the Government the power to sell off all the public forests at any point in the future. At the moment they cannot sell more than 15 per cent.

We must act now before the country's forests turn from being a legacy to be enjoyed into an investment for the wealthy.

From: Simon Warren, Shutt VR, The Grove, Ilkley.

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From: Janet McCulloch, Grosvenor Crescent, Warmsworth, Doncaster.

I REFER to your recent coverage of the proposals to sell off various woodlands which have been described as "environmental vandalism", but no-one seems to have noticed the huge act of the same ilk being perpetuated across South Yorkshire on the M18.

The building of the continuous concrete barrier along the M18, which, when finished, will stretch from Sheffield to Goole is the equivalent of the Berlin Wall for our wildlife.

It makes a mockery of the moves to protect wildlife by providing cover at field margins, beetle banks and only mowing the first metre on grass verges to provide habitats and cover for wild creatures.

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The argument for the efficacy of such barriers for road safety has not been proved, large goods vehicles can still go through the barriers and if a lorry should overturn onto a barrier it is far more likely that the driver will be killed than if he or she should land on armco or wire barriers.

There is no provision for animals to cross by alternative means, no cover in the middle of the road as there was previously and if these barriers are continued all over the country our wildlife will be compartmentalised and biodiversity will be at and end.

Meanwhile, the cover at each side of the motorway will be a wonderful place from which small and not so small creatures will be able to launch themselves to certain death.

Has the Highways Agency considered the impact on a motorcycle of encountering a terrified badger or fox in the centre of the road?

Rhythm of the streets needs to be heard

From: Kendal Wilson, Wharfebank Terrace, Tadcaster.

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Sometimes it is hard to articulate without anger, especially after watching Andrew Neil on the BBC giving us his synopsis of our political masters and their roots of omnipotence shared educational broad space and known remoteness from the majority.

It is the beginning of a new century and here we are feeling Victorian, the working classes being put back in their place, incremental destruction of support networks for the poor and disadvantaged. Padlocks on the forest gates, gamekeepers and poaches return aplenty.

The programme's worrying theme became obvious. If you do not have the right money, you are barred from the entry points to public service in the form of councillor and beyond. The superclass of 2011 from the Commons through to council officials and their underlings who control education, health etc are building their own huge power base. Subtle though it is, I believe it is the most influential in history.

The working classes are portrayed and marginalised in silly shows such as Shameless which does nothing to rebuild broken working class heartlands where desperation is humming like a swarm of bees.

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Where indeed are the interested groups of men and women going to go if they cannot promote a brother representative?

The only way around this is for people to stand as independents on a paper candidacy with a one-off mission statement telling the rest how it is and steering their neighbourhood in a suitable direction, it used to start in the local community centres.

So come on, for the sake of democratic debate, where are the next Scargills and Skinners?

It is all healthy if it's from a mixed source, it is called pro-active democracy where everyone's viewpoint is given the chance, not the secret research and opinions needed as advertised and touted for on the internet as a middle-class political questionnaire.

The rhythm of the street jungle needs to be heard.

Try Blair as war criminal

From: P Capstick, Hellifield, Skipton.

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With reference to the letter from D Birch (Yorkshire Post, January 29), Tony Blair should be tried as a war criminal. He invaded Iraq.

To go to war on a lie must be one of the most (if not the most) vile atrocities open to man, and two wrongs do not make a right.

Peace and democracy are not brought about by such actions, just the opposite. Right-minded people speak the truth, not lies. They think first, and then consider how their actions will affect others.

They are not selfish.

To try to appease his actions by saying wars come and go is as futile as war itself.

From: AE Fletcher, Spey Drive, Auckley, Doncaster.

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IF any military personnel are killed or injured through lack of personal protective equipment, shortage of ammunition, transport or helicopters and armoured vehicles not fit for purpose, the senior civil servant, department minister and Prime Minister should all be charged with criminal negligence and corporate manslaughter, as they would be if they were running a private company.

Too many brave people are being slaughtered and maimed because of their cost savings and incompetence.

Keeping the facts straight

From: John C Jackson, Long Meadows, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

THE interesting article by Tony Earnshaw about Eric Portman, the largely forgotton but once internationally famous Halifax-born actor who died in 1969, contains an often repeated error about Portman's date of birth (Yorkshire Post, January 29).

Earnshaw perpetuates the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography's assertion that Eric Portman was born on July 13, 1903, when, in fact, his date of birth was July 13, 1901. And, as David Glover, the Halifax historian has pointed out, the ODNB contains another inexactitude – namely, that Portman's second forename was Harrison (his mother's maiden name) whereas it was Harold.

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Another widely held belief is that Portman was born at 20 Chester Road, Akroydon, Halifax, where his family subsequently resided, but, in truth, his place of birth was 71 Chester Road. I can testify to the accuracy of the above since, as superintendent registrar for Calderdale, I have custody of the register containing Eric Portman's birth.

Put bobbies on the beat – not crime data online

From: RC Curry, Adel Grange Close, Leeds.

I DO not share our Home Secretary's boundless enthusiasm to put street by street crime statistics on the internet (Yorkshire Post, February 2).

Of course, the police may be lurking around the corner to catch those criminals who dare to take advantage of the "easy picking" big crime streets which they can lift off the attached map; as added to the already unwelcome intrusion of Googlemap the bad lads are given a right of passage to our homes.

There could even be some who will take it as a challenge to have a go at the presently less bothered areas.

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Further, great damage will probably be caused to the pockets of houseowners as, where not already so, insurers will jack up their rates or insert restrictive clauses at any excuse, or even make more properties uninsurable against crime; in addition the prices of property so stigmatised could be badly hit.

As with so many other aspects of real life, politicians appear to be incredibly naive and do not appear to think over the consequences of their actions on ordinary people.

To this present holder of office, I would say "get real". Instead, increase the number of bobbies on the beat to grab the villains by the neck.

That will be fairly easy if they get rid of the back breaking paper producing administration lovers who have been allowed by the last government to fill every nook and cranny of the police and justice services.

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However, these days, protesting banner wavers seem to carry more weight than truncheon bearers, so we may only continue to live in hope.

A question of development

From: William Nelson, North Road, Halsham.

Adam Briggs suggests that the public may question why North Yorkshire Police Authority spent "valuable time and resource" inquiring into whether he had broken contract regulations. He is wrong.

What the public would really like to know is why the Authority selected as deputy chief constable someone who needed 10,000 worth of "executive coaching" and a 10,000 "salary allowance for personal development costs".

Why did they not simply select someone who was already developed and capable of doing the job? Thankfully, he has resigned (Yorkshire Post, February 2)

Expensive lessons

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From: Martyn Gamble, Stonefield Garth , Easingwold, York.

YOUR front page story about the travel and hotel expenses incurred by local councils was shocking (Yorkshire Post, January 29).

The examples you gave merely scratch the surface.

Such behaviour used to be expected in countries such as Italy and some African countries.

I wonder how the tour of Europe helped in the emptying of Yorkshire dustbins?

Water, water everywhere

From: Jennifer Barnes, Main Street, Etton, Beverley.

The recent bad weather has had a good side.

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We have just returned from our favourite day out to Scarhouse reservoir in Nidderdale. I am pleased to report that it is full, a wonderful sight. So, good news for Bradford, with plenty of water for the time being – thanks to the recent snow.