ACU Calls for a Fair Deal in Forestry Policy as Campaign is Launched to Preserve Access Rights
The Auto Cycle Union (ACU) is calling for DEFRA’s ‘Independent Forestry Panel’ to take off road motorcycle sport seriously as the Government’s Review into future policy for the Forestry Commission commences.
The ACU welcomed February’s U-turn by Government which cancelled the controversial sell-off of Forestry Commission Land, but is today warning that off road motorcycle sport could still be under great threat. This is because it is feared that the newly announced independent panel of experts could be more concerned with environmental issues, bio-diversity and commercial logging, than it will be with the needs of motorcycle sport.
The ACU are calling for the panel to engage in constructive dialogue on the issue of access for sporting events and the sustainability of these events. It is of high importance that the access to forestry land is preserved to allow for the enhancement of motorcycle sport, as this is a popular spectator activity and offers a unique and diverse way of exploring the countryside. With over one million spectators attending off road events within the UK each year, it is clear that the public strongly supports off road motorcycle sport.
The ACU has decided to campaign actively for the preservation of motorcycle sport on Forestry Land. As a result of this, member clubs and other concerned off road riders are asked to write to their MPs to seek their support for off road motorcycle sport on Forestry land.
ACU Chairman Brian Higgins said: “If we can build up enough pressure, via MPs, 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.”
The ACU are highly concerned that a balance is maintained between environmental protection, biodiversity, sustainable use, public access and access for a range of public sport activities, both motorised and non-motorised, which are of low environmental impact in aggregate.
Mr Higgins added: “There is a strong need to ensure that the bio diversity of forestry land is protected and land is sustainably used. However, the ACU urges the panel to resist the urge to ‘museumfy’ forestry land which is what would happen if the panel recommended the cessation of motorised sport activity to the Secretary of State.”