THE two-year operation to cut down diseased trees at Cwmcarn Forest Drive is on track, a public meeting heard on Wednesday night.

In a packed Cwmcarn Working Men's Club, there was a more positive feeling than previously as Natural Resources Wales (NRW) reassured around 75 members of the public that they expect some walking trails to be open by April next year.

Last year, NRW began a two-year tree felling operation at the forest to slow the spread of Phytophthora Ramorum, commonly known as Japanese Larch, and closed the Forest Drive as a result.

However, John Hogg of the NRW warned residents that there approach to the site in the long term is set to change as they look to bring in third parties to help manage the site in the longer term as part of wider cut backs.

Senior manager Mr Hogg said: "The financial reality is all too clear, we are pushing an open door and the question is how we make it sustainable.

"We don't want a position where money runs dry after a year and I can't give guarantees but we are exploring a way forward to unlock funding with Caerphilly County Borough Council, the Welsh Government and other partners.

"It is going to take some years before we remove this evil disease from across South Wales but we are on track to open the drive by late March to early April and we have moved a lot to do that."

The Caerphilly County Borough Council-run visitor centre and all other site facilities remain open, but Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive are campaigning to ensure the drive is returned to its former glory.

So far, NRW have felled 30 per cent of 544 hectares of woodland area in Cwmcarn at a gross cost of more than £27,400 as it was confirmed they make a net loss of £13 on each of the 2,109 timber lorries that have been used to take away the larch.

Sally Tansey of NRW added: "We are being hard in south Wales as we have such a high level of larch compared to the rest of the country. The scale of operation in the next five years shouldn't be underestimated and it's very unusual.

"This is not the sort of scale of operation we have done in our history but we are making great progress."

Mrs Tansey also confirmed that they are looking at 'improving' their updates on the site to the public and have the budget in place to put any bridle ways or walk ways back in place.

A big change is that NRW confirmed they are going start felling in the Lappi area next rather than the West End as previously thought and stated there would be 'higher impact in the shorter term in but they would then be out of there

quicker'.

Members of the public and AM Rhianon Passmore put forward their feelings and an array of questions, although there are continual concerns on the management of the site, there is an excitement with regard to amenities reopening next

year.

Rob Southall, chairman of the Friends of Cwmcarn Forest Drive, said: "I would like to have had other assurances with regard to what access and amenities would reopen once the felling is completed but it is good that the agenda is there and we are closer together on that."