Lake District forest campaign

Northwind

Don't honestly know... Thing is trail centres generally run at a loss, Llandegla turns an operating profit * as do many others but, not enough to justify the capital outlay- trail miles are expensive. So, they end up being subsidy magnets.

(* well- this is a matter of definition, they turn a profit on the money UPM puts in, but they don't make a profit when the subsidies are taken into account. Which is basically saying "Our money matters, your money doesn't" Perfect example of what happens when public money meets private enterprise)

And that's OK because they do have net financial benefits, there's a brilliant public domain study on Laggan Wolftrax that basically shows the trails will never make money for themselves, but they more than paid for themselves in local benefits on year one.

But it does mean they're not very realistic as standalone profitmaking ventures. But, IMO what this ends up meaning is that you sell off the land, and the new company takes whatever profit can be made but still draws exactly the same amount of public subsidy as the FC would have done, so it ends up actually costing us more money.

Gazlar

Fair enough, perhaps my idea is a little idealistic, I'm just impressed by how the FC have used locations with things such as go ape and trail centres to bring people in, and also how it encourages people to use and enjoy those areas. Sure there is an environmental impact from this, but I'd say its minimal really.

Chrisdawg

Investors are not altruistic, forests and the timber they contain are a relatively safe investment and will yield a good return when sold on. Timber prices are the best that the industry has seen in years. Public access especially on a bike is an expensive liability that very few owners will underwrite without grant support.
There is talk of a new private trail centre on land managed but not owned by Tilhill, but only if they can get grant support from the FC, if not it wont happen. The bottom line is that access on foot is the only guaranteed access on any freehold forest sold, leasehold forests, and a lot are leasehold, have no such covenant. There is also no stipulation with regard to the standard of access, merely that it is safe and available.
86% of the worlds forests are state owned, only 18% of Englands are state owned and they want to sell them off or at least place the burden on the big society.

Scottsparkrider

DEFRA consultation document now online - we must make our voices heard!!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consu ... lt-doc.pdf

Scottsparkrider

Great turnout at the Grizedale rally yesterday. Great speeches and good to see so many bikers there recognising the threat this has to our sport and many of the places we love to ride!!