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Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

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Current Petitions

Forestry Commission (Consultation Guidance) (PE691)

Tuesday 5 October 2004 Public Petitions Committee Petitions 7 contributions · 3 speakers

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The record

7 contributions
Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Our next petition is PE691, on the subject of Forestry Commission guidance on consultations. The petitioner is calling on the Scottish Parliament to investigate the Forestry Commission's implementation of its guidance on consultations with residents in areas that are near to widespread logging, drainage and planting activity. The committee further considered the petition at its meeting of 12 May 2004 and agreed to invite the petitioners to respond to the Forestry Commission's response.In their response, the petitioners ask what criteria are applied to consultation of local authorities or other statutory organisations. They also express concern that "there is no statutory requirement for the applicant to notify neighbours"and that"the whole process seems to be based on 40 year old legislation and should be brought up to date."Does any member have a view?

Helen Eadie Lab Dunfermline East
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Will we ask the Forestry Commission for its view of the petitioners' response?

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Given that the petitioners have raised some new issues, it would seem reasonable for us to do that.

John Farquhar Munro LD Ross, Skye and Inverness West
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I think that the issue came before a parliamentary committee in the past and, although the accusation was directed at the Forestry Commission, the committee discovered that the operations were being carried out by a private contractor. Because the felling of trees for timber was involved, the community assumed that the operations were the responsibility of the Forestry Commission, which they were not. To be fair to the Forestry Commission, I think that it recognises its social responsibility for its forestry activities and tries to involve the local community in what it is doing most of the time.

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Do you agree that it is worth while asking the Forestry Commission for its view of the points that the petitioners have raised?

Michael McMahon Lab The Convener · Hamilton North and Bellshill
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Is it agreed that that is the action we will take?Members indicated agreement.

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