A GROUP campaigning to secure the future of Cwmcarn Forest for visitors and residents grilled National Resources Wales last night in a public meeting.

The Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive hosted the event at the Cwmcarn Working Mens Club and Institute with campaigners, residents and politicians in attendance.

The group want to see Cwmcarn Forest Drive re-open to visitors once work to fell 150,000 trees to prevent the spread of disease is completed.

Three representatives from Natural Resources Wales attended the meeting and announced an “open door policy” towards discussing the future of the drive.

John Hogg, NRW head of operations for South East Wales, addressed the meeting, stressing the importance of communication with communities.

He added: “Over the next 12 months we hope to put plans in place with the community that will be upheld for the next generations.”

NRW confirmed that tree felling work will be completed by Saturday, December 31, 2016 with haulage due to finish by Friday, March 31, 2017.

Sally Tansey, of National Resources Wales, stated that if the road was to re-open it would need to be more “sustainable and compact.”

She said: “We didn’t anticipate the amount of haulage that was going to be needed in such a short amount of time and it would be unwise for us to re-open the drive without assessing the substructure of the road.”

Cllr Rhianon Passmore, of Risca East Ward, stated: “In this interim period we need to demonstrate to agencies and politicians that this is part of our key agenda for Wales.

“It is a regional tourist destination and we can build skill and create jobs and enterprise here.”

Gwyn Price, AM for Islwyn added: “If this is an open door policy it’s important for us to keep the momentum so we can push more doors open and eventually re-open Cwmcarn Forest Drive.”

National Resources Wales pledged to work alongside campaigners this year to decide on future developments at the site.

Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive chairman Robert Southall was “delighted” with the turnout and believes the campaign has “turned National resources Wales 90 degrees.”

He said: “The fact they are saying it is an ‘open door’ is absolutely fantastic.

“However the big issue for is that we need to form a single body to manage it all otherwise you are going to have people pulling in different directions.

“As a canvas this is a great opportunity but have to be extremely careful not to over-commercialise the drive.”

To find out more visit Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive on Facebook or e-mail friendsofcfd@gmail.com