The Delamere Project - Consultation on Masterplan (11.30 - 11.45)
John White
Minutes:
The Forestry Commission was carrying out pre planning application consultation on proposals to improve and develop visitor facilities in Delamere Forest.
A draft forest-wide Masterplan had been produced and the consultation process would lead to two planning applications being submitted – one for the creation of a new Visitors’ Centre at Linmere and one by Forest Holidays for a development of forest cabins in the Kingswood area.
The Forum was concerned that the Forestry Commission had not consulted them directly on the proposals as the land affected by the proposed developments was classified as Access Land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Discussions on the proposals included consideration of the advantages and disadvantage of the location of the forest cabins, access to the forest by public transport, vehicle access to the cabins, the affect of the proposals on the forest paths, light pollution, disruption to wildlife and creation of employment in the area.