At a recent ACU meeting it was decided to campaign actively for the preservation of motorcycle sport on Forestry Land and our public policy specialists have commenced activities related to this. The Motor Sports Association is similarly campaigning and our activities will complement theirs.
In recent years, it has become increasingly the case that the best way to lobby MPs is for constituents and those directly affected by an issue to approach their local MPs. This is because MPs prioritise constituents business and contacts. The ACU will campaign actively on the Forestry Issue, but we are writing to you to seek your support for the campaign by asking you to write to your MP.
If we can build up enough pressure on DEFRA with regard to the positive contribution of the sport, then this will help to influence any decisions that the Secretary of State will ultimately make. It would also be helpful if the Forestry Review Panel was also persuaded to take the sport seriously in their deliberations.
We have prepared a ‘sample’ letter for you below. This would look better if it is reproduced by yourself, rather than ‘cut and paste’, though we appreciate that your time may be limited. The important thing is to get in touch with your MP on the Forestry issue.
Click here to view a factsheet to attach with your letter.
If you are able to support the campaign, please let us know when you write to your MP. We also ask that you forward any replies to your letter to the ACU. These two items are important as they will allow us to build up a picture of our campaigning activity around the country, which will help the ‘central’ campaign that we are running.
If you get a chance to visit your MP to discuss the issue, please let us know. Via our public policy specialists, we will be able to give you direct help and support prior to any MP visits.
Finally, as a central point of contact should Clubs need any further guidance or have any other questions to ask, please contact Craig Carey-Clinch, who represents the ACU and motorcycle sport in Government circles, part of our Political Strategy Group. Craig can be contacted by email: craig@rowanpublicaffairs.com
We do hope that you can support the campaign and we look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Brian Higgins
ACU Chairman
Please reproduce the letter below in your own words. Please feel free to adapt the text to suit your local interests/circumstances.
XXXXXXX MP,
House of Commons,
Westminster,
London,
SW1A 0AA
Date 2011
Forestry Review Panel
Dear Xxxxx MP,
I am writing to you about the DEFRA review into the Forestry Commission estate which is about to commence its work.
I represent #### club which runs off road motorcycle sport events (on Forestry land [delete if not applicable]) under the authorisation of the sport’s governing body, the Auto Cycle Union (ACU). Under the Road Traffic Act, the ACU authorises over 4,000 off road motorcycle sport events in England and Wales per year. Several hundred of these take place on Forestry Commission land and the ACU has in place an agreement with the Forestry Commission regarding the authorisation of these events.
The ACU welcomed the establishment of the Forestry Panel, but notes that Panel membership does not appear to include individuals with specific expertise in automotive sports issues. Therefore the ACU seeks proper representation to the panel, so that the positive economic and social issues that surround off road sport events on Forestry land, plus other related issues, can be properly taken into account as the Panel commences its business.
The ACU has developed a short factsheet on motorcycle sports events and Forestry land. This is attached. You will note that the ACU is currently reviewing and revising its code of practice with regard to such events, with care for the environment being a particular focus (though the aggregate ‘footprint’ of motorcycle sports events is already low).
I would very much welcome the opportunity to discuss the matters raised here with you and hope that you will support the ACU’s request for the opportunity to present to the Panel.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,