The Motor Sports Association has welcomed the government announcement that the consultation process over the proposed sell-off of Forestry Commission land has been halted.
The proposals, as they stood, posed a very real threat to the continuance of forest stage rallying in England and the MSA would like to thank every member of the motor sport community that took the trouble to respond to the consultation and more importantly to write to their MP.
However, the issue has not disappeared and the MSA is warning against complacency in light of the announcement that the government will establish an 'independent panel of experts to look at public access and biodiversity within the publicly owned woodland.'
“We must continue to raise awareness of the importance of forest access to UK motor sport,” explained Colin Hilton, MSA Chief Executive. “Rights of access will be top of the agenda of this new panel, but if the motor sport lobby is not heard, the panel may consider the interests of walkers, cyclist and horse-riders, rather than those of motor sport.
“The MSA will continue to keep up the pressure within Westminster, but we would again urge all motor sport enthusiasts to write to their MP to remind them of the vital role of the forests in UK motor sport.”
The Motor Sports Association has prepared a revised letter and briefing document for people to send to their local MP. These are available from the MSA website,
www.msauk.org