Cannock Chase 'not for sale', insists council

Staffordshire County Council, which runs the park, moved to put down claims the popular visitor-spot would fall out of public hands and into private ownership.

The issue even caught the attention of Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling yesterday, who went on record to say she would oppose any sale.

The concerns were prompted after official papers from the county council emerged this week outlining 10 options for the future management of its countryside estates including Cannock Chase and Chasewater.

They range from 'do nothing' to putting 'sites on the open market'. But now the council has moved to clarify that only sites which do not benefit the public would be considered for sale.

The council says its countryside service has come under significant financial pressure in recent years, causing the launch of the review on council-owned plots.

Other options include establishing a partnership with private firms to manage and maintain the land.

Paul Woodhead, Cannock Chase Green Party co-ordinator, who circulated the council papers to others warning of the potential sell-off, said: "Private firms are only concerned about how they are going to make money out of something.

"If they took over the Chase it might restrict people's access to the park or affect the quality of the amenity.

"At the moment the way it is being run and managed is very good, it is better than it's been in generations there is a lot of good stuff going on up there."

The council is currently in the process of talking to other organisations about future management options for country parks and has stated that proposals will go out for public consultation in October. Environment chief, Councillor Mark Winnington said: "There are no plans to sell Cannock Chase. We are custodians of the Chase for this and future generations and at the moment we are simply looking at the best way to manage this country park and others across the county.

"We have been discussing these ideas, publicly, since 2014.

"Currently we're talking to those groups with an interest in the country parks and the intention is we will have a full public consultation later this year.

"The process has been completely open and will continue to be so.

"There are lots of ideas under discussion and what may work for one site, will not work for another.

"Sensibly, within the report, there's an option to sell off sites which are of no benefit to the public.

"We fully expect the only interest for these sites to be from community user groups and parish councils.

"I reiterate Cannock Chase and Chasewater will not be sold."

Mr Woodhead added: "I was a bit surprised at how detailed the options were. If there are areas not being considered for sale it could have been more explicit. It's good to hear that they are are saying they won't be selling off Cannock Chase.

"I think people need to be aware of decisions being made like this so they can have their say. The more people who get involved with decisions like this which are being made by local authorities, then the better the chance of a more positive outcome."