By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
There will be no referendum on the Forest of Dean’s Unesco Biosphere designation after a bid for a poll was voted down by civic chiefs.
The Forest of Dean District Council has been working towards achieving the prestigious global resignation for the area since 2019.
They say the district’s unique natural and cultural heritage would be protected by Biosphere status while boosting sustainable economic growth and attracting investment.
But opponents fear it has the potential of restricting access rights in the future and could turn the ancient forest into a theme park.
Concerns earlier this year that the project was progressing without enough public consultation led to councillors voting for a six month moratorium on the project.
The issue was debated again last Wednesday at a meeting in Coleford where councillors requested a referendum be held on the project alongside next year’s local elections.
A separate bid calling for a business case to be developed before the submission was also voted down.
Councillor Bernie O’Neill (Progressive Independents, Ruspidge), who suggested a referendum, had called for a community panel to be set up made up of the Commoners’ Association, Verderers, Freeminers, parish and town councils to examine the proposal.
“I am putting people at the heart of decision making on this regarding the Biosphere application which is why I’m proposing to put the question to the residents of the Forest,” he said.
He claimed consultation efforts have been negligible over the last five months and he said “crucial questions remain unresolved with significant confusion and anxiety surrounding this application”.
“Public engagement has been virtually non-existent except for four biased promotional videos produced by the administration that were subsequently retracted after we complained formally.”
His motion claimed Biosphere designation would significantly impact local traditions, livelihoods and the landscape.
He also claimed the verderers, commoners and freeminers are “fuming about not really knowing what’s going on and how it will affect their livelihoods”.
Vice-chairman Harry Ives (C, Lydney North) said the best thing councillors supportive of the Biosphere could do was to vote for a referendum as that would protect the project should there be a change in administration.
“When it comes to the Biosphere project, there is an enormous elephant in the room,” he said.
“There is the near certain prospect of local elections being held to this authority in May of next year.”
Councillor John Francis (I, Huntley and Longhope) said there was entrenchment between parties, pre-determination in the debate and a lack of transparency and a referendum would crystalise the wishes of the district.
But Councillor Trevor Roach (G, Mitcheldean, Ruardean and Drybrook) raised concerns there were efforts to obstruct, delay and destroy the project.
“We’ve got seven months until the next election which is another seven months of delay,” he said.
“I haven’t got any confidence that even if we have a poll, we won’t find another odd way to [stop] progressing it until the opposition to a Biosphere in the Forest of Dean has killed it off.”
He suggested the council continue to communicate and progress the scheme unless a future council decides it is not in the best interests of the Forest of Dean.
“I have worked in a Biosphere where I’ve seen the value to the local community and the way the community got to know the heritage and culture even more,” he said.
“Let’s be honest, this culture will die away unless we see a proactive way of celebrating it.
“The Biosphere is a celebration, it’s a badge or recognition.”
Councillor Jamie Elsmore (Progressive Independents, Berry Hill) said he was listening to all the points in the chamber and commented on the many accents he heard during the debate.
“I’ve lived in the Forest of Dean all my life and the generations before me,” he said.
“I welcome all these accents because it shows us as Foresters have done something right to bring all these people into this small corner of the world.”
But he blasted the Greens for “being so out of touch with the public”.
“What I find really desperate and sad is you clap yourselves when you represent your opinion and aspirations, we get clapped by the public,” he said.
Councillor Richard Burton (G, Newnham) said there were no proven risks of Biosphere designation and the only likely outcomes were positive.
“If we have a referendum about this, then we set a precedent for having a referendum about anything,” he added.
But former council leader Tim Gwilliam (Progressive Independents, Berry Hill) said the council had not been able to secure the support of “that most important ancient trinity” of the Commoners, Freeminers and Verderers.
“That alone should give us pause for thought,” he added and said it was “only fair and proper” for the people of the Forest of Dean to have their say on the Biosphere status through a referendum.
The council ultimately voted against having a referendum by 17 votes to 15.