Public Open Days for Draft Council Woodland and Forestry....

[Kintyre Forum News]

PUBLIC OPEN DAYS FOR DRAFT ARGYLL AND BUTE WOODLAND AND FORESTRY STRATEGY

Argyll and Bute Council has organised a series of Open Days to give the public the chance to learn about and comment on an important new draft strategy.

The Woodland and Forestry Strategy is being prepared by the Council - in partnership with the Forestry Commission - for the Argyll and Bute area, excluding the National Park.

As part of the consultation, views are being sought from all those with an interest in our woodlands and forests, whether they work in the forest industry, are concerned with environmental or community issues or involved with a related land use such as agriculture.

‘The Future for our Woodlands and Forestry’ Open Days will be held next month at the following locations and times:

AREA VENUE AND LOCATION DATETIME

Cowaland Bute Strachur Village Hall Wednesday 6th May 12 – 8pm
Kintyre and the Isles Tarbert Village Hall Thursday 14 May 12 – 8pm
Oban, Lorn and the Isles Corran Hall, Oban Wednesday 20th May 12 –8pm
Helensburgh and Lomond Gibson Hall, Garelochhead Thursday 28th May 12 – 8pm

Forests and woodland cover more than 30% of the land area of Argyll and Bute, and as such impacts on many aspects of community life. However, there is no current overall picture of the resource and its related issues.

The kind of questions the Woodlands and Forestry Strategy seeks to address are what the woodlands might look like over the next 50 years in our area, and how we might make the most of them so that they contribute to our local economy, to the environment, our rich heritage, and to the quality of life or our communities and residents.

Councillor John Semple, chair of Argyll and Bute’s Environment Policy and Performance group, encouraged people to use the Open Days to give their views.

“One of the main reasons for producing a Woodland and Forestry Strategy will be to influence the future expansion and restructuring of woodlands in our area,” he said.

“The strategy will also identify the local circumstances and factors which should be considered when planting and felling proposals are being assessed.

“This policy will help ensure that the benefits from the future development of woodlands in the area are maximised for the people of Argyll and Bute.”

The strategy will be prepared over the course of 2009 and Argyll and Bute Council is keen for all those with an interest in woodlands and forestry to share their views. It will be finalised and put forward for approval by the Council towards the end of the year.

Funding support for the strategy – commissioned by the Council and the Forestry Commission Scotland - has also come from Argyll and the Islands LEADER, and Scottish Enterprise (Scottish Forest Industries Cluster).

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS

For further information, please go to www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/woodland