THE GOVERNMENT'S Forestry Commission has come under fierce attack for "sabotaging" the future of mountain biking in Scotland by blocking a major development in the central belt. The attack, from a leading mountain biking group, comes at an embarrassing time for the commission, as it is one of the major sponsors of the Mountain Bike World Championships in Fort William this weekend.

The commission has also been accused of wasting public money, playing "cynical games" and acting like a "secret society". It denies the allegations, however, insisting that it is committed to developing mountain biking "in a sustainable way".

The bitter row has prompted widespread concerns among other public agencies and politicians, including a demand for commission officials to be sacked. And it is leading to the break-up of a partnership organisation intended to develop mountain biking facilities.

The argument centres on a £1.5 million plan to develop mountain-bike trails in the Carron Valley Forest, on the edge of the Campsie Fells to the southwest of Stirling. The plan has been put forward by the Carron Valley Development Group (CVDG), formed four years ago to promote mountain biking in the area.

An initial 10.5km of bike trails in the forest, opened in March 2006, have proved popular, attracting more than 20,000 visitors. But there is growing anger at the failure of the Forestry Commission, which owns Carron Valley Forest, to give the go-ahead for expansion.

"The commission has wilfully, deliberately and systematically sabotaged the project in order to permanently derail it," the CVDG's chairman, Niall Thomson, told the Sunday Herald. "Money from the public purse has been needlessly wasted, and the commission's reputation has been substantially damaged in the eyes of many partners. Its handling of this project has been nothing short of scandalous."

Thomson pointed out that Carron Valley was the only major mountain-bike facility easily accessible by a million people or more in the central belt. "It is bitterly disappointing to see a public body use every bureaucratic trick in the book to thwart a project that will benefit our communities," he said.

He claimed the commission's failure to back expansion had caused a £15,000 grant to be returned to the EU, and was threatening another £35,000 grant. He has become so frustrated at the lack of communication from the commission that he has filed 16 requests under freedom of information legislation.

"It is completely unacceptable for the Forestry Commission to behave like a secret society," Thomson added. "We hope the environment minister, Michael Russell, will now lead a full investigation into all matters concerning this project."

He is backed by Mark Ruskell, the former Green MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife and now a CVDG member. "The cynical games of the Forestry Commission have rubbished years of successful and dedicated grassroots work by the community," he said.

"Ministers must bring the commission into line where their predecessors failed and sack those responsible for this mess if they are to keep Scotland's reputation as the world's top mountain-biking destination alive."

Ameeting at the Scottish parliament on Wednesday between CVDG and the Forestry commission is being hosted by Michael Matheson, Scottish National Party MSP for Falkirk West. "The aim is to try and get clarification from the commission on its plans for Carron Valley," he said.

The expansion plans have been backed by Stirling and North Lanarkshire councils, and by Scottish Water, which has a reservoir in the area. But growing doubts over the Forestry Commission's position has caused them to question the value of the Carron Valley Partnership, a forum set up to advance the plans.

The partnership is now "set to be disbanded", according to a Forestry Commission spokeswoman. "This is a disappointment to us, but it is our intention to carry on working with the individual partners to develop recreation in Carron Valley."

The commission pointed out that mountain biking was a fast-developing activity which required facilities that were planned and managed in a sustainable way. "There is ongoing demand for new facilities across Scotland, including central Scotland," said the spokeswoman.

"However, there is a need to prioritise any new developments to ensure these complement existing facilities. In all instances, we need to ensure the management and maintenance of trails can be properly resourced in the future."

Carron Valley had other recreational opportunities such as horse riding and walking, she argued. "Any developments at this location need to fit in with the Forestry Commission's aims for a more inclusive recreation experience. We intend to provide improved facilities for all who seek a family day out in Carron Valley."

The commission also strongly defended its support for mountain biking, for which Scotland has been declared a "global superstar" by the International Mountain Biking Association. The commission has played a "key role" in getting more than £5m worth of investment over the last five years, stressed the spokeswoman.

She added: "The World Championships at Fort William have once again put Scotland on the international stage. They have been a massive success and it is an example of one of the ways we want mountain biking in Scotland to continue."