JUBILANT campaigners are looking to the future after a Government proposal to sell off public woodland, including Delamere Forest, was scrapped.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman has pledged that forests ‘will stay in public hands’, more than 15 months after the controversial plans to sell woodland to private companies were revealed.

The announcement, made on July 4, followed on from a final report by the Independent Panel on Forestry which stressed that the estate should remain in public ownership.

And the news was welcomed by dedicated Delamere residents, who teamed up to fight the scheme from day one.

Alan Knowles, chairman of Delamere Parish Council, said the findings of the report also marked good news for businesses in the village.

“It still keeps the forest in public ownership and that was part of our campaign,” he said.

“It stays in the ownership of the general public for people to use and not be fenced off and become private to cyclists, horse riders, walkers and everybody enjoying it - that was our main hope.

“Some things have to change and it is change for the good as far as we can see as it secures the forest for everyone to use and for the future generations.”

The findings also emphasises that children should be able to embrace woodland-based learning through education programmes and links between forests and schools, a move welcomed by fellow campaigner Robin Ackerley.

He added: “We really are delighted.

“We got such tremendous support from both residents living in Delamere and people all over the area, it really gave us a boost.

“The report also shows the Forestry Commission at Delamere have been justified in what they have been doing and they have been looking to the future getting an amazing amount of people into education generally, and all credit to them.

“They thoroughly deserve this result.”

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