HC Deb 15 March 1949 vol 462 c1910
73. Mr. Bramall

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of acres for which a tree-felling licence was issued in respect of Gatton's Plantation and Joyden's Wood, North Cray, Kent, and the number of cubic feet of timber which may be cut; and whether the Forestry Commission were consulted before the licence was issued.

Mr. J. Edwards

The felling licence for Joyden's Wood covers 292 acres and is for 104,000 cubic feet of timber and 300,000 cubic feet of underwood; the licence for Gatton's Plantation covers 37 acres and is for 15,000 cubic feet of timber. Before the licences were issued, there was consultation with the Forestry Commission and with the Ministry of Town and Country Planning which acts as the link with the local planning authority—in this case, the Kent County Council.

Mr. Bramall

Can my hon. Friend say whether there was any direct consultation with the Kent County Council in view of the fact that there is very considerable local unrest over this destruction of woods in this area of the green belt?

Mr. Edwards

I can tell my hon. Friend that there was a meeting on the site which was attended by representatives of the Timber Control, the Kent County Council and the timber merchants.