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240 at Argyll public meeting shows strength of feeling against forest sell-off
February 1, 2009 10:25 PM
240 people turned out at last Friday's packed public meeting in Lochgilphead organised by Alan Reid MP and George Lyon as part of their campaign against the SNP's plans to sell 75-year leases on many of our forests. Many of the 240 people were unable to get into the hall because it was full.
The meeting was chaired by Robert Beaney of the Forestry Commission Trade Unions.
Among the speakers opposing the forest sell-off were Alan Reid MP, Lib Dem Euro candidate George Lyon, and Councillor Ellen Morton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Argyll & Bute Council.
Many in the audience spoke passionately against the forest sell-off. Not a single member of the audience spoke in favour of the sell-off.
Opposition to the sell-off came not just from forestry workers. People in the audience spoke about their worries over access to the forest and the future of community projects like the Kintyre Way. The Forestry Commission were praised for their protection of archaeological sites and promoting biodiversity. Worries were expressed that private companies would have no interest in this.
Councillor Ellen Morton told the meeting that the Liberal Democrat Group on the Council had voted to submit a critical response to the Scottish Government's recent consultation on the proposals, but had been outvoted by SNP and Independent Councillors who voted that the Council should submit no response to the consultation.
The meeting demanded that Scottish Environment Minister Mike Russell attend a future public meeting so that they could tell him what they think of his sell-off plans.
Alan Reid MP has invited Mr Russell to come to a public meeting in Lochgilphead on a date of his own choosing. Mr Reid said;
"The people of Argyll have spoken. They believe passionately that our forests belong to the people of Scotland, and should not be sold off to private investment companies. Mr Russell must come to Argyll to hear the views of the people before he sells any of our forests."
George Lyon added, "The massive turnout of local people tonight shows the depth of feeling there is in Argyll about the SNP's plans to hand over local forests to private companies. The unanimous message to Environment Minister Mike Russell MSP was a resounding 'no' to the privatisation of Scotland's forests.".
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