A petition against the “indefinite or permanent closure” of Cwmcarn Forest Drive has been handed into the Assembly, calling on the Welsh Government to reverse the decision to shut the attraction.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) say they need to fell over 150,000 diseased larch trees.
The infectious and untreatable disease has the capability of infecting around 78% of trees along the drive.
NRW are due to close the road indefinitely, suggesting the work will take two years but could take longer due to weather and contracting issues.
However, they will not commit to re-opening the drive, meaning the seven mile stretch through the forest could never open again after it closes on November 2.
The petition, which closed on October 14, was signed by more than 2,300 people online and paper copies were also submitted.
It reads: “We should save the drive for its users, many of whom are elderly, disabled and from our ethnic minority and immigrant communities. This deprives those people who are our most deprived of their main facility for health and well being.”
Rob Southall, Chairman of Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive, said: “We have managed to change NRW’s mind about the length of time the felling is due to take. This was indefinite with a cautious warning that it would take at least six years.
“At present they say the felling will take two years, but they are still not guaranteeing re-opening the drive to cars so it is essential that we keep the pressure on in order to ensure that NRW commits to this.”
NRW would not comment directly on committing to re-open the drive, but cite the cost of repairing the road after the damage caused by the felling operation and “pressures on public sector budgets” as reasons why they will not give a definite assurance.
They have committed to replanting the forest and are collecting seeds from Douglas fir trees to replace the felled larch.
Andy Schofield of NRW, said: “This is part of our long-term plan to replant the forest as it is such an important part of the community and the economy in and around Cwmcarn.
“It is sad that we have to fell so many infected trees, but it does give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redesign Cwmcarn Forest to do more for people, the economy and wildlife.”
A meeting of Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive to discuss the closure took take place on October 16.
I read this article with increasing incredulity. So they are going to cut down large numbers of diseased trees to save this public woodland but in the process are going to damage the roads so much that it might not be accessable to the public anymore.
Then we have a petition that describes the elderly and immigrants as “our most deprived”, I doubt whether either group would describe themselves as deprived.
Some quango called NRW (or National Resources Wales) is then going to plant seeds from Douglas Fir, which they have apparently been assiduously collecting, to try and grow a new woodland. Don’t they know that Douglas Firs are about as natural to Wales as Chicken Tikka Massala, not that there is anything wrong with that dish but it is hardly a Welsh icon. Douglas Fir was first imported to Wales about 150 years ago.
Why don’t they gradually thin out all the Larch, not required for pit props anymore, and replant with native species? The Ash, a handsome and useful tree, is faced with devestation by disease and large numbers could be planted instead. Also Oak, sacred to the old Welsh religions, could be planted here. In time this would give us a natural forest, teeming with wildlife, which would be representative of the times when South Wales was thickly forested and be a haven of peace for visitors and locals alike.
Reading this article I had to check it was not April 1st, this plan is typical of the Welsh Assembly in all its ineptitude. Let’s hope there is a rethink of this ridiculous plan before we end up with a sterile and useless forest of Fir trees that we can’t even get into by car.