Sell off of national forests...

[Sedger]

The Government is drawing up plans to sell off publicly owned forests in a move that could see private developers allowed to clear ancient trees to make way for holiday resorts, golf courses and adventure playgrounds.

What do you think about this plan. I know some of the forum members are involved in forestry and rural type issues. I'd welcome their opinion.

My gut reaction is to be suspicious - once they're sold there's no going back. How will access be sorted. ... etc


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...huge-selloff-of-britains-forests-2115631.html

 

[lacroupade]

It makes me sick when we already have the mechanisms in place to manage it for the public good, why not just lease the crop or something instead of selling off national treasures when we know that, because of the significant benefits that woodland ownership has in avoiding inheritance tax, its the rich ba5tard5 that will end up buying it?

And yes, access will be a big problem, as will the loss of existing plans to replace all those regimented softwood plantations with proper mixed woodland.

Theres no winner here except, yet again, the rich and/or big business.

 

[jace]

30p year per person for woodland,and when its sold the new owner will be able to claim grants to maintain it lol they wouldnt be able to fell trees willy nilly though esp if ancient oaks etc any good arborist would ask to see written permission etc first.

 

[clivvy]

I think its a bad idea, and, look at it like this, we are born into this country, the land belongs to those who live on it, I dont understand how they can sell off such a vast area of land, that is here for the public to enjoy and "be free" in? they are reducing the amount of space we have to roam around in, before long, youll be paynig a tax to exit your own home.

 

[jace]

we the people (brothers!) own buckingham palace and crown jewels try poping round for borrow of tiarra for mrs to go out with lol!

 

[lacroupade]

we the people (brothers!) own buckingham palace and crown jewels try poping round for borrow of tiarra for mrs to go out with lol!

and then look at all that crap over the royal family getting millions as a result of their 'ownership' of the foreshore and seabed from windfarms.

I'm all for the royals and the money they attract to this country but theres a limit to what they should be earning and most of their assets should be in public ownership, not being screwed by them.

 

[clivvy]

and then look at all that crap over the royal family getting millions as a result of their 'ownership' of the foreshore and seabed from windfarms.

I'm all for the royals and the money they attract to this country but theres a limit to what they should be earning and most of their assets should be in public ownership, not being screwed by them.

make them buy the public forests and then they will remain public, fnar!

 

[Karinofnine]

All Crown income goes to the Government. The Government pay an allowance back to the Royal Family. I believe the allowance to be less than the income.

How does the government square its proposals to sell off forests (with public access) with its aim of getting us to exercise more? Where should we do that exercise once public access has gone? How long will it be before the new owners manage to get residential planning permission on once green belt land? The value of that land will soar and the owner will pocket a nice little profit. Remind you of anything? Sell off of Russian state utilities for peanuts?

Once again this is something that will affect the majority of people, but have less impact on the wealthy (ie MPs).

 

[lacroupade]

All Crown income goes to the Government. The Government pay an allowance back to the Royal Family. I believe the allowance to be less than the income.

How does the government square its proposals to sell off forests (with public access) with its aim of getting us to exercise more? Where should we do that exercise once public access has gone? How long will it be before the new owners manage to get residential planning permission on once green belt land? The value of that land will soar and the owner will pocket a nice little profit. Remind you of anything? Sell off of Russian state utilities for peanuts?

Once again this is something that will affect the majority of people, but have less impact on the wealthy (ie MPs).

That was true, but civil list is now dead and instead Her Maj gets a %age of the overall income from CE. Thats why the windfarm thing was such a big deal.

Just as Charlie benefits from his 'royal estates':doh

Like I say, I am a royalist at heart but the way they get funded should be reviewed carefully.

 

[jace]

royals cost us far more than there worth bunch germans lol,maybe instead of a bio-diesel plant we could buy a club forrest an turn it into pay and play site lol

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

All Crown income goes to the Government. The Government pay an allowance back to the Royal Family. I believe the allowance to be less than the income.

How does the government square its proposals to sell off forests (with public access) with its aim of getting us to exercise more? Where should we do that exercise once public access has gone? How long will it be before the new owners manage to get residential planning permission on once green belt land? The value of that land will soar and the owner will pocket a nice little profit. Remind you of anything? Sell off of Russian state utilities for peanuts?

Once again this is something that will affect the majority of people, but have less impact on the wealthy (ie MPs).

As Karinofnine said the Royal actual make a profit for the UK! And as for getting rid of them or making them do things, that's not how a monarchy works :doh

I do think selling of forests is sad, but on the other hand how much right do we have to access the land now? most peoples lives are confined within their own garden fence and limited by the curbstones at each side of the road. Countryside and forests are something they see from a car, bus or train window. SO in real terms for your average person in the street this will mean little - and that's how the government will get away with it!

 

[lacroupade]

As Karinofnine said the Royal actual make a profit for the UK! And as for getting rid of them or making them do things, that's not how a monarchy works :doh

I do think selling of forests is sad, but on the other hand how much right do we have to access the land now? most peoples lives are confined within their own garden fence and limited by the curbstones at each side of the road. Countryside and forests are something they see from a car, bus or train window. SO in real terms for your average person in the street this will mean little - and that's how the government will get away with it!

Hogwash. They don't generate anything in their own right except for indirect tourist revenue.

This country hasn't realistically been a proper monarchy for years and the so-called Crown Estates are really public property, so its public money, not Royal profit.

Don't get me wrong, theres no reason to behead them all, but we don't need them having artificial ownership of the seabed or huge private art collections to keep the tourists coming do we.



I'm not suggesting a Bastille Day, just nationalisation of the monarchy

 

[harlowmaverick]

well the goverment are onl trying to make a buck or two

blame labour for the debt that we were left in, the goverment coillition are only trying to get us out of debt asap.
i dont agree with the selling off of our woodland and forest area's.
they will get developed and wild life will suffer in the main. which isnt any good for my dinner plate!!!
next they will want to sell off playgrounds and paddling pools or even privatise them so the kiddywinks have to pay to use them.
once we are out of this debt will things go back to normal????
I dont thinks so, because we will be left with nothing!!!
plus the fat cats at the top of the tree would have got used to a life of comfort whilst us minions at the bottom struggle to pay for their f@ck up in the first place!
REVOLT EVERYONE, WE NEED A REVOLUTION TO CLEAR THE AIR AND DUMP EUROPE!
BRING BACK THE COMMONWEALTH AND ALL THAT WAS GOOD ABOUT IT!!!

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

I think all this royal bashing is hogwash, the royals as a real Monarchy made britain into the super power and empire that it was.

The 'so called' democratic system of politics we have is failry new, everyone complains about the government, and arguably the country has gone down hill ever since. I think our 'limited pseudo- democtacic system' has run it's course. Some of the most stable countries and economies are still Monarchy's.

Our half-hearted democratic system, that lets people who have the stamina and charisma to win the popularity contest that is an election rule the country, with no qualifications whatsoever to do it - is the real problem.
Lets face it how many people have you me who are really pleased with this government so far, or the last one, or the Thatcher years, or the 'loony left' 70's, etc. etc.

I say get rid of the lying cheating politicians, and their bad decision making and let the royals do their job, it's what they are there for. We already pay to keep them so it would cost no more, and look how much we would save by getting rid of the idiots in the house of commons.

That's real patriotism for you, being lead by the head of state and head of our national church. What could be simpler - it would even keep the EDL "patriots" happy :augie

 

[clivvy]

I think all this royal bashing is hogwash, the royals as a real Monarchy made britain into the super power and empire that it was.

The 'so called' democratic system of politics we have is failry new, everyone complains about the government, and arguably the country has gone down hill ever since. I think our 'limited pseudo- democtacic system' has run it's course. Some of the most stable countries and economies are still Monarchy's.

Our half-hearted democratic system, that lets people who have the stamina and charisma to win the popularity contest that is an election rule the country, with no qualifications whatsoever to do it - is the real problem.
Lets face it how many people have you me who are really pleased with this government so far, or the last one, or the Thatcher years, or the 'loony left' 70's, etc. etc.

I say get rid of the lying cheating politicians, and their bad decision making and let the royals do their job, it's what they are there for. We already pay to keep them so it would cost no more, and look how much we would save by getting rid of the idiots in the house of commons.

That's real patriotism for you, being lead by the head of state and head of our national church. What could be simpler - it would even keep the EDL "patriots" happy :augie

excellent comments, and I think I agree. what are we afraid of? The days of villages being pillaged by the Kings Army are gone, the Monarchy are quite capable!

 

[lacroupade]

I think all this royal bashing is hogwash, the royals as a real Monarchy made britain into the super power and empire that it was.

The 'so called' democratic system of politics we have is failry new, everyone complains about the government, and arguably the country has gone down hill ever since. I think our 'limited pseudo- democtacic system' has run it's course. Some of the most stable countries and economies are still Monarchy's.

Our half-hearted democratic system, that lets people who have the stamina and charisma to win the popularity contest that is an election rule the country, with no qualifications whatsoever to do it - is the real problem.
Lets face it how many people have you me who are really pleased with this government so far, or the last one, or the Thatcher years, or the 'loony left' 70's, etc. etc.

I say get rid of the lying cheating politicians, and their bad decision making and let the royals do their job, it's what they are there for. We already pay to keep them so it would cost no more, and look how much we would save by getting rid of the idiots in the house of commons.

That's real patriotism for you, being lead by the head of state and head of our national church. What could be simpler - it would even keep the EDL "patriots" happy :augie

Who's bashing. And 'hogwash' was my word if you don't mind!:lol

I'm simply saying that while there is no need to do away with them, they need to pay their way and hand back some of the priceless assets they apparently own.

And where are all these stable monartchies then - true monarchies I'm talking about.....??

Well allow me to save you the trouble.

44 monarchies left of which 16 are 'commonwealth'.

Only 6 true monarchies remain: Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland and Vatican City. What a selection THAT is.....

The remaining 22 includes such gems as Thailand, Japan and Cambodia...with countries like Sweden and Denmark bringing up the rear, all with their own probloems and instabilities.....I mean the King of Swedens daughter married her personal trainer, and there are plenty of other joke marriages in the same vein.

Its impossible to respect the monarchy these days in the way it once deserved I'm afraid, but that doesn't mean dumping it, just modernising a bit LOL

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Modernising? modernising? the Queen? Big Liz? her Mag? How very dare you!

and whats wrong with marrying your personal trainer, if I had one I'd consider it, even if it did cause international instability - snob! :augie

 

[lacroupade]

Modernising? modernising? the Queen? Big Liz? her Mag? How very dare you!

and whats wrong with marrying your personal trainer, if I had one I'd consider it, even if it did cause international instability - snob! :augie

but they are supposed to be inbred you fool!!!

 

[jace]

ha ha thats a list of opresive regimes aint it! we killed our monarchy off and imported some foreign clan. aint one of the foreign royals we call our own marrying a rugby player,not quite a persnol trainer.
i reckon a wood belonging to club be good i did see a car that run on wood chip once lol!

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

but they are supposed to be inbred you fool!!!

so there's nothing else for it I'm going to have to marry my sister - again :doh