Clear felling - if Center Parcs don't have the woods won't it be clear felled? No. This is a popular misconception. The woods are owned by the Bedford estate. Felling can only be carried out under its felling licence with the Forestry Commission and the terms of this licence limit the amount that can be cut down at any one time and require replanting. No more than 20% can be felled at one time. Replanting with broadleaved trees attracts grants but coniferous trees can be planted without the benefit of grants.

What is greenbelt? - the full answer to this is a little technical, but in a nutshell it's land that is earmarked as never to be developed. The aim of the green belt policy is permanently to preserve some areas of land as countryside so that urban areas don't sprall and merge.

Green belt has positive objectives such as providing opportunities for access to the open countryside for the urban population and providing opportunities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation near urban areas. The policy can also preserve attractive landscapes, and enhance landscapes, near to where people live.

The green belt can only be developed in "very special circumstances". This phrase has a legal meaning. It doen't just mean exceptional or unususal and the fact that little harm might be caused is not enough.

To see the full statement of green belt policy, click here

To see a map of national green belt areas click here

Is it true that there is only local opposition to Center Parcs? No. Whilst there is much local opposition, the councillors who voted against the plan included councillors from Biggleswade, Sandy, Cranfield and Harlington. More than a thousand people signed a petition objecting to the development. Of these, 13% were from Ampthill, 4% from Maulden, 2% from Lidlington, 2% from Greenfield and 8% from Westoning.