Furore in the forest

Ian Paul Editor, Politics Show South

New Forest residents have been taking to the footpaths to protest at what they see as infringements of their way of life in the Park Authority's proposals for the future of the area.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) was set up five years ago to preserve the unique character of the Forest.

It is a character that has evolved over hundreds of years since the area was established as a royal hunting preserve by William the Conqueror in 1079.

Ancient character

It is a character encrusted with ancient rights and practices, of pannage and estovers and turbary, of agisters, commoners and verderers.

All of which makes the area feel special to those who live there, and which perhaps explains their passion at resisting what they see as their ancient rights being traduced by a Johnny-Come-Lately National Park Authority.

But then again, what may have worked well for medieval residents, perhaps needs a bit of updating for an era in which roads criss-cross the Forest bringing summer tourist chaos to notorious bottlenecks like Lyndhurst.

Big plan

So the NPA put forward its Park Plan - available online in nine chapters, six annexes, an introduction and an explanatory note.

Technically, it is a consultation document only (the consultation period runs till 31 October), but it maybe looks just a little too professionally finished - less a consultation document, more a prospectus.

Unique landscape

Many of those involved in the protest against it have been arguing that the NPA looks to have made up its mind already, and in ways they are not happy about.

Tina Cant, from the Forest Uprising Group, is clear about what she would say to the NPA: "We didn't elect you, you haven't consulted us, these proposals are unworkable - you've got to come back to the table, sit down and rework them."

The NPA argues that it is a genuine consultation, they do want to hear people's views, and a lot of proposals have been misrepresented.

Plans to close some car parks to dogs do not constitute an attempt to ban dogs from the Forest, they say.

Suggestions that they want to introduce toll roads are just wrong, they insist.

Though I would have to say that in a document made up of nine chapters, six annexes, an introduction and an explanatory note, it is perhaps unsurprising that people have got hold of the wrong end of some sticks.

Dogged debate

An area rich in wildlife

The debate so far has been pretty lively and conducted through public meetings, with hundreds turning out.

And this Sunday, the Politics Show will be at one of them, to hear from both sides about how the New Forest should develop in the future.

Why not send us an email and join the debate?

And join Peter Henley live in Brockenhurst this Sunday on BBC One at 12:00BST.

Send us your views on the form below...

---