Common Sense at last re the New Forest.

[CliveH]

I posted a while back about the crazy plans the that the New Forest Park Authority had come up with, banning dogs, banning horse rugs, planning permission required for changing paddock arrangements, toll roads etc etc.

 

Thanks to some stirling work – and much team work between the various groups, the silly person who came up with all these numpty ideas resigned a while ago after much pressure and a new head was appointed. Interestingly this new person is a well respected local businessman and New Forest resident in marked contrast to the previous lady head who seemed to have no real ability, knowledge or listening skills whatsoever.

 

At a meeting this week the new management agreed that all that had gone before was basically tosh and was to be abandoned. It benefited neither the residents, those that worked in the New Forest or the thousands of visitors that are welcomed and are so important to the New Forest.

 

A couple of links reporting this for those that are interested.

 

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/districts/newforest/4577745.Protesters____delight_at_New_Forest_National_Park_plan_U_turn/

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8234614.stm

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8235315.stm

 

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/newforest/4578112.Contentious_parts_of_New_Forest_blueprint_are_ditched/

 

What pleases me is that by getting organised, (and isn’t the internet wonderful in this respect!!) - calmly but firmly objecting to the stupidity of what was being proposed and despite the arrogant bureaucratic insistence that we, as mere residents and users of the Forest had no say and that the civil servants drafted in knew better, common sense has prevailed and an arrogant (it's not nice to insult people) has been shown the door and replaced by a local guy that actually understands and listens.

 

A good week for local democracy.

 

[Rapido-lass]

Wonderful to know that sometimes peoples opinions are taken on board and make a difference. Well done to all those who have campaigned to get this result. It just proves that not all the people who think they know best actually do.

[smifee]

Good news indeed.

 

Perhaps he will change the daft rules on cycling as well.

 

One forestry commission vehicle does more damage to the surface of the forest than all the bikes.

 

I'll carry on ignoring their daft rules.

[CliveH]

We were planning to ignore the anti dog rules as well! How on earth were they going to stop an organised group of about a 100 happy dog walkers with their happy dogs from using one of their designated "non-dog" car parks?

 

The only thing we would all ask is that when the signs go up on paths stating that nesting birds and/or lizards are ahead please follow the signs and do not disturb them.

 

Sadly I have seen a group of horse riders stop and read the signs then just ride right over them! I am sure some dog walkers ignore the signs (and possibly cyclists as well!) so I am not having a go!! - but at nesting time a lot of damage can be done very easily.

 

But then nature is hardly benign - Having watched Montagu's Harriers nesting and rearing their young it was unbelievably upsetting to hear that the young had all been killed by a ruddy fox. :-S

[Colin9591]

Clive,

That's good news. As an ex-Southbourne and latterly Poole resident, the New Forest is one of my favourite areas that we still visit annually despite living a 'laal bit north in't Lakes.

Very pleased to see some sanity returning to local affairs. It'd be good if it happened up here too!!

 

Best Regards

 

ColinS