Hands off our National Forests

The Government is planning a massive sell off of our National Forests.  If the Government gets its way today, and it looks as if it will, we will see our national forests auctioned and fenced off, run down, logged or turned into golf courses and holiday villages.  National forests like the Forest of Dean, Sherwood Forest, and the New Forest could be sold off. It could also mean sales of local Forests like Mirehouse, Whinlatter and Grisedale to name but a few. 

There is a major outcry about this and most MPs have been inundated with complaints from people about this latest attempt by the Coalition to reduce the deficit.  Clearly people are concerned and consider this to be a move too far.  It is clear that people value our forests and woodland.

Our own MP has now got an extensive mailbag on this issue and has been kept busy writing to people.  Hopefully he will get the chance to speak on this in the House of Commons and will vote against it.  The majority of people do not want to lose these national forests because of the loss of recreational opportunity it will cause.  For many others it is the desire to protect our trees for the conservation of our wildlife and the enjoyment of the public.  People generally are concerned at the threat selling off poses to the felling of some of our great trees.  There is evidence even locally that the sale of woodland and forest can end with the owners fencing the land off so people can no longer enjoy the beauty of a walk in such a natural environment.

There are other issues that maybe will be closer to our hearts in Cumbria in terms of damage the  wholesale felling can do to the environment.  We have all seen the terrible damage flooding can cause and it is no secret that trees on fellsides are able to slow down the run off during periods of prolonged and heavy rain. 

However the greatest question to be answered is why sell them of in the first place?

Public discontent and protest

I return after a short absence whilst I got over illness, bad weather and Christmas.  I was prompted to write again by a reader of the Times and Star who reads my online column and who enjoys a bit of controversy and political knockabout so here I go again. First of all can I wish you all a rather belated Happy New Year.  Local Government is set to face the onslaught of the cuts imposed upon it from the Coalition Government.  The work to make those cuts in Cumbria County Council is now well in hand.  Potential cuts to services have been identified and councillors and officers behind the scenes have been assessing what they need to do for this year and in future years.

This is a difficult time for every one and the grief over what stays and what goes is shared from Local Authority to the NHS to the Police and other public services.  Extensive lobbying is the norm at budget time from organisations and from individuals who are concerned about the impact some cuts will have on them.  It is a tense time for everyone and more so than for the hundreds of thousands of individuals who are under threat of redundancy or who are set to lose a service that they rely on.  The impact of these cuts will be felt by everybody.

So far Cumbria is not contemplating the closure of any of its extensive rural Library network but it is under review and I think we may see some major change there in the future.   Cumbria will also need to modernise its Care Services in order to cope with the rising demographic of older people.  It will have to do that despite the considerable burden imposed by reductions in grant from government.

One of the services valued by the public is that of Concessionary Fares.  Until the end of March these services are run by the District Councils but from April the 1^st it will become the responsibility of the County Council.  Well you may think that will help reduce costs as there will be one administrative centre rather than six.  However each District not only ran its own scheme they also added to the statutory provision.  Some have funded vital rural buses by as much as 100% for example.  For the County Council to do that it would have to find the extra resources but is first of all asking the District Councils if they wish to contribute.  However to add to this complication Government has actually cut the Concessionary Fares budget by a whopping 18% which is a double whammy.    We will need to wait a while to see how the circle is squared or not and to understand what impact these cuts will have on the use of public transport across the County. 

Then there are the concerns about cuts to Children’s Services.  Of the 600 plus jobs that the County Council will have to shed a staggering 50% of them are now anticipated in Children’s Services.   So much for protecting children from the brunt of these cuts!  I have recently sat on an urgent task and finish review of to examine proposals that will cut the £10 million Supporting People grant t by 30%.  This grant is used across Cumbria to help support vulnerable adults with their housing needs.  Protecting our most vulnerable people is of paramount concern but being able to implement costs of such a magnitude requires considerable negotiation and planning.  This cut comes on the back of an in year cut to budget which stripped out the administration costs which were consequently absorbed by departmental budgets.  It is depressing stuff and whilst it is possible to tweak around the edges it is clear that cuts year on year like this will impact on the front line.  The burden will be shunted down the line to the organisations that provide the services so badly needed including the voluntary sector.  There is no wonder therefore that right across this country demonstrations are taking place to protest about the cuts to our public services, to the loss of jobs, to the attack on the NHS, to the reduction in police numbers, to the loss of libraries, to the impact being felt by carers.  The issue here is the feeling that these cuts are too far and too fast.  There has surely got to be another way?  The increase in VAT is already hurting and we have all seen the rise in costs at the supermarket and the petrol pump.  The increase in taxation will add to the burden now being felt by many families.

The Trade Union movement is organising a massive rally on the 26^th March in London and people will be attending from all over the UK.  We could end up seeing the biggest demonstration seen in the capital for decades.  I intend to be there and I know many thousands will march with me.  It may not stop what is being done but it will send a signal to the Coalition that the people do not like what is being done in their name.  It will show the strength of feeling that is burgeoning up as people start to understand what is going to happen. 

This week YouGov Poll showed approval rating for the Coalition at -23% and Labour in the lead by double digits once more.  This comes hot on the heels of learning that there had been no growth in the economy and with concerns that the UK is slipping into recession again.  Which makes me wonder if the Coalition will hold its nerve and continue with its planned cuts or will we see a uturn?  Tens of thousands of people feel that the planned cuts are too far, too fast and unfair on too many.  Many would rather see the Banks pay up more to pay for their mistakes and others feel that the cuts should be spread over a longer time frame. 

The public consultation on the County Council budget has come to an end and all councillors and the public will now wait and see the outcome and what the Cabinet will propose to Council.  What I do know is that there will be more disappointment and protest than usual.