A PETITION to prevent the permanent closure of Cwmcarn Forest Drive has seen 1,780 people sign up with a further 4,000 people showing support online.

Organised by Coleg Gwent lecturer Robert Southall, the petition to prevent the closure has attracted a massive response from the public with thousands pledging support before the petition closing date on October 14.

This comes as part of their campaign to persuade Natural Resources Wales (NRW) not to close Gwent’s biggest tourist attraction in order to chop down thousands of diseased trees.

Forest Drive, a seven mile road through Cwmcarn forest, will close on Sunday 2 November 2014 to allow felling teams to safely prepare, fell and remove more than 150,000 affected trees from over 162 hectares (400 acres) of infected forestry.

The rest of the attraction including a visitor centre, play areas, footpaths and mountain bike trails, will remain open all year round.

We reported in May that the seven-mile drive will close in November to carry out large-scale felling of trees affected by untreatable larch disease across 400 acres. It is not known when the site would fully re-open.

Last week Mr Southall set up campaigning group ‘Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive’ to fight that closure becoming permanent.

“Our petition is the second highest on the Assembly website,” he said.

“We have had lots of support- people just want to know the truth.

“We have more than 4,000 people showing support on the ‘Save Cwmcarn Forest Drive’ Facebook page from all over the world-places such as Japan, and America.

“I will be meeting with Natural Resources Wales today along with some people from Friends Of Cwmcarn Forest Drive to help fight the close.

“I have written to the First Minister but have had no response.”

But Natural Resources Wales are keen to iron out any concern by holding ‘drop in sessions’ for people to ask about felling at Cwmcarn Forest and the closure of the Forest Drive Road. Sessions will be held at the Cwmcarn Forest Drive Visitors Centre from 10am to 2pm on September 21 and 10am to 2pm on September 22 and provide an opportunity for people to find out more about the plans.

Andy Schofield, Regional Land Manager for Natural Resources Wales, said:

“We have arranged these sessions as we understand that many people are concerned about the planned felling operation and have questioned why we have to close the road.

“We also want to reassure people that our long term aim for this forest is to restore and improve the area so it can remain a fantastic attraction and continue to play an important role for the people and the economy in the area.”

If people cannot make any of the drop-in sessions, they can send any questions to Cwmcarn@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk.

The current briefing note with the latest information is available here

View the petition