YouGov poll shows most oppose woodlands sale

A YouGov survey for the pressure group 38º shows the vast majority of people – three-quarters of those polled – are against the Conservative-led coalition’s controversial proposals to privatise the woodlands of England.

by Keith Richmond
Friday, January 28th, 2011

More than 160,000 people have also signed an online petition against the plan to sell off 150,000 hectares which are currently in the care of the Forestry Commission.

David Babbs of 38º said: “If our public woodlands are broken up and privatised, that would mean a significant reduction in both public access and in the standard of care for the woodland wildlife that lives here.”

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About The Author

Keith Richmond is deputy editor of Tribune
  • Trevor

    These proposals are a return to the 18th and 19th century Enclosure Acts which stole huge swathes of the countryside from the British people. Profits before people (and the environment) yet again.

  • swatantra

    Selling of our natural heritage so that a handful can enjoy and the rest of us pushed aside.
    This is Tory principles in action. Its an absolute disgrace. it was a Labour govt that set up the NationionalParks the Woodlands and plantations, and its a Tory Govt thats selling of the family silver.

  • terence patrick hewett

    To the correspondent Swatantra: Some time ago you posed the question in response to mechanisation : what (you declared) will happen when machines take over all of human activity: well I was busy busy at the time so I could not reply. As an engineer do not know but a reading of Kurt Vonnegut’s book Player Piano is one attempt to engage with this. But yr use of the Supermac phrase “family silver” makes me suspect that you are, like so many trade unionists, an Old Tory.

  • sick2backteeth

    Plain theft to line thiefs pockets. They like to think of themselves as upmarket gentlemen, but they’re not to be trusted with the nation’s family silver, Far too light fingered as usual.

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