What the CCW & FCW say

( The following are extracts from this Forestry Commission Wales News Release - 5 MAY 2009 NEWS RELEASE No: 12443 - Newborough forest plans explained to the public )

[ EXTRACT 1 ]
FCW Director Trefor Owen, who attended the meeting along with CCW Chief Executive Roger Thomas, said, "Due to the sensitivities of this site, we have been working for several years with stakeholders to develop a Forest Design Plan for Newborough Forest.
"However, we have been advised by the Assembly Government and CCW that unless we demonstrate that action is being taken to improve the condition of the sand dunes, there is a risk that the EU may impose penalties on the government".

This misleading statement was used to reject the Forest Design Plan developed over 3 years in association with the Liason Partnership Group & others. It implies that it is the EU through their Habitats Directive who are behind their decision to reject the Plan.

However the 'there is a risk' & 'may' also included in this statement shows that they are uncertain whether or not the EU would in fact take any action in the special situation that exists regarding Newborough forest.

Checks have been made & the CCW claim that the Assembly Government was in danger of penalties being imposed by the EU turned out to be nonsense. The EU DG Environment had no concerns that might have led to legal action.

Yet in spite of this & the massive public opposition demonstrated since 2004, the CCW have chosen to reject the Plan & still wish to destroy a large part of Newborough Forest.

The European Habitats Directive includes the following paragraph -

' Measures taken pursuant to this Directive shall take account of economic, social and cultural requirements and regional and local characteristics.’

This key paragraph is very applicable to the Newborough situation. Currently it very much appears that it is being ignored by both the CCW & FCW. The 'Newborough Forest Protection Group' have recently canvased many thousands of forest visitors & there is almost total opposition to the CCW recommendations. In the case of Newborough forest, peoples opinions & interests should be of paramount importance, especially as this forest is owned by the Assembly on behalf of the 'People of Wales'. see - Newborough forest Petitioning results

[ EXTRACT 2 ]
Mr Owen added, "We are aware of the importance of the forest for tourism in the area and wildlife and we believe that, once the immediate and any subsequent felling has been completed, we will be left with an area every bit as beautiful and enticing as it has been."

This statement was made before the new Forest Design Plan had been produced. It is a blanket statement covering whatever they decide to do, including creating mobile sand dunes. It is saying that the clearfelled mobile sand dunes that the CCW want to create, will be just as beautiful and enticing as the existing forest.

Unfortunately for them, the vast majority of people strongly disagree with this statement. We have consulted many thousands of forest visitors while collecting signatures for our petition & generally people react with disbelief that these proposals are even being considered. Far from leaving the area every bit as beautiful, in their view these proposals have the potential to destroy Newborough forest as a tourist attraction. The general consensus is LEAVE THE FOREST ALONE, THIS AREA IS BEAUTIFUL! see What People Think