North Herefordshire Green Party is calling on the head of the Forestry Commission to halt plans for large-scale commercial development in Mortimer Forest.
The Greens are asking commission chairman Sir Harry Studholme to intervene and scrap “damaging” plans for 68 holiday houses on 125 acres of forest below High Vinnalls close to the Herefordshire-Shropshire border. The scheme would be “a gross and inappropriate” form of development in a much-loved local forest, say the Greens.
The plan by Forest Holidays, in association with the Forestry Commission (which has a 15 per cent stake in the company), would include access roads, car parks, an on-site shop, bar, restaurant and takeaway facilities.
Said Leominster Green councillor Jenny Bartlett: “Mortimer Forest is a peaceful beauty spot much-loved by people throughout North Herefordshire and beyond. It supports a tremendous variety of wildlife – this sprawling holiday park would destroy precious habitat.
“The Forestry Commission is approaching its centenary – in 2019 – and its chief, Sir Harry Studholme, recently publicly championed the Commission’s role ‘in safeguarding and protecting the Public Forest Estate now and for the next 100 years.’
“Well Sir Harry, the plans for Mortimer Forest utterly conflict with that worthy objective. We call on the commission to abandon plans for such damaging development.”
Hereford Times coverage here
BEFORE and AFTER?
