Meeting about controversial Ffynone and Cilgwyn woodlands (From Western Telegraph)

Meeting about controversial Ffynone and Cilgwyn woodlands

10:30am Thursday 9th July 2009

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Residents angry that a community woodland was bought with half a million pounds of public money are holding a public meeting tonight to discuss the issue.

The Ffynone and Cilgwyn woodlands, near Boncath, were bought by the Growing Heart Workers Co-operative two years ago.

The purchase was funded by a grant given to them under the Cydcoed scheme managed by the Forestry Commission Wales (FCW), but local residents are angry about the lack of consultation.

A public meeting has been set up, and AM Paul Davies submitted residents’ questions to the FCW.

He said: “The FCW admitted in its written response that it failed to safeguard the future of the woodland by omitting a clawback clause if the Co-operative sells the woods.

“We did get some answers from the FCW but they have led to further questions and some serious concerns.”

The group will be monitored by the FCW for the next 20 years to ensure contractual commitments are met.

A FCW spokesman said: “It is true to say that there is no clawback clause. It was a standard contract and was carefully scrutinised by an experienced project team before it was approved. The application was accompanied by several letters of support.”

He added: “Work that has started there is consistent with restoring the area to a natural woodland.

“We are aware of concerns over the scale of the work, but are confident that the work of the Growing Heart group is consistent with the vision set out in their grant bid.

“It does require a long-term vision for the benefits that the woodland will bring.

“Cydcoed is a phenomenally successful scheme, there is a very experienced project team behind it who are looking at the project very carefully.”

The public meeting will take place at Bwlch-y-groes school hall tonight, July 9th, at 7.30pm.

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