Residents angry that a "community" woodland was bought with half a million pounds of public money are holding a public meeting to discuss the issue.

The Ffynone and Cilgwyn woodlands near Boncath were bought by the Growing Heart Workers Co‐operative two years ago.

The purchase was funded by a £500,000 grant given to them under the Cydcoed scheme managed by the Forestry Commission for Wales (FCW). But local residents are angry that they weren't consulted before the woods were bought by the co‐operative "for community use" and so they took their grievances to local AM Paul Davies.

He has since submitted a list of 80 questions on their behalf to the FCW and taken their concerns to Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. The residents say they were not consulted about the planned "community" woodland and that there's been no community involvement in the project.

Parts of the woods have recently been clear felled and hardcore tracks put in. Now a public meeting has been set up to discuss the campaign to get an independent inquiry into how Growing Heart Workers Co‐operative got the funding.

"The FCW admitted in its written response to the residents' questions that it failed to safeguard the future of the woodland by omitting a clawback clause if the Co‐operative sell the woods," said Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies.

"We did get some answers from the FCW but they have led to further questions and some serious concerns. "We have now set up a public meeting to discuss he FCW's responses and to discuss the next step in the campaign."

*The public meeting about Ffynone and Cilgwyn Woodland takes place at Bwlch‐y‐groes School Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday July 9.