NickB wrote:Agreed! It is just the start of what will be a long wriggle by the government to get their own way
You old cynic!
...and I have seen no evidence to suggest that this statement is anywhere near accurate, quite the reverse in fact...
I actually believe that they have backed down under the weight of public opposition, simple as that. They took a punt on a policy and the public objected.
You should be grateful that we now have an administration that is prepared to admit that a policy idea was ill conceived and concede that it was a bad idea. There are other administrations, thankfully no longer with us, that would have pushed this plan through regardless.
You have also neglected to mention that the government have not only halted the public consultation (and surely here it is moot to mention that this was only a public consultation), but have pledged to establish instead a new panel of experts made up of representatives from conservation bodies amongst others which will reportedly be created to examine public access to the woodland and biodiversity issues.
Conservation bodies such as The Woodland Trust now have a medium with which to apply pressure to government and perhaps infuelce future policy that they have never had before. But I suppose that this is wrong as well...
Credit where it's due.
Felix.