Wentwood Forest 'under serious threat'

3.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jun 2005

Former Welsh Assembly Government Minister Michael German AM is calling for an urgent statement from his successor on the serious threat to the future of the Wentwood Forest between Newport and Chepstow.

Mr German wants Labour Minister Carwyn Jones to make a statement on the subject in the Assembly today, ahead of a public meeting tonight.

He said, "The Assembly Government should step in and provide the cash assistance to enable these woodlands to be purchased for the benefit of the public to return their ancient woodland status."

Mr. German is a former minister who was responsible for Wales' woodlands. He cites the current market as prime area of concern over the proposed sale.

"Commercial activity for timber, particularly from conifers, is not very profitable at the moment in the UK, where we cannot match the price of imports from Scandinavia and the Baltic states where fixed costs are lower than those here. The best price for timber is spruce and pine for the construction industry. However, timber from the woodland presently offered for sale is of a high quality on largely flat land and due to a good network of forestry roads, close proximity to the M4 and a number of saw mills, the sale of woodland at Wentwood would, on this occasion, present an attractive proposition to a commercial operation seeking a profitable and fast return", said Mr. German.

"Presently, forestry land investment is free of capital gains tax and there is a substantial tax free timber income to be made from the re-sale of the site after timber has been felled. My fear is that any operator could buy the area in the Wentwood forest and clear-fell the area, making a quick return."

"This would leave not just a huge scar on the landscape of Gwent, but further, irreversibly damage the habitat of remaining pockets of ancient woodland. There are a number of felled conifer sites up for sale in the UK and it is not unusual for these sites to be sat on the market for a long time attracting little, if any, interest."

Mr. German added, "Although the Forestry Commission could impose restrictions and conditions to manage the felling of trees, they could not stop large scale felling per se."

When Minister for Rural Development, Mr. German purchased Caerphilly Woodlands and handed over the land to a local community action group.

"There is nothing to stop a body such as the Welsh Assembly Government buying or assisting in the purchase of woodland such as Wentwood now to secure and protect the land for the environment and the community for many generations to come."

ENDS

DIWEDD