Basingstoke news and sport from the Basingstoke Gazette

Forest wins National Park status

From the archive, first published Wednesday 29th Sep 1999.

THE New Forest finally won its long-awaited status as a National Park today.

Deputy prime minister John Prescott made the historic announcement at the Labour Party conference in Bournemouth.

But the move has sparked controversy across the Forest with calls for more discussion before National Park legislation is passed.

Park status would give the Forest a new strategic body with legal powers to co-ordinate traffic, land management and tourism.

It would get 75 per cent of its funds directly from the government and would act totally separately from New Forest District Council.

The district council and Hampshire County Council would work alongside the new authority to discuss issues affecting the future development of the Forest.

John Prescott also included National Park status for the South Downs from Winchester to East Sussex.

He told the conference today: "National Parks along with areas of outstanding natural beauty are recognised as being our most beautiful countryside.

"We have been looking carefully at what needs to be done to ensure the protection and good management of these areas for the next 50 years.''

Earlier this week a 4,000 name petition against park status was handed to New Forest East Tory MP Dr Julian Lewis. Many opponents claim National Park status may mean taking away power from New Forest people to have a say in the way their affairs are run.

Dr Lewis accused ministers of "overriding the opinions and appeals of those most closely involved with the working forest" despite the fact that it was already protected by legislation. He said: "Labour is not willing to make Parliamentary time available for new legislation, so it intends for force the New Forest into the National Park straight jacket which few of us expect to be beneficial."

New Forest District Council chairman Pat Wyeth said: "We will be very sorry by this decision and will have a lot of power taken away. Let's hope the move will include a tailor-made body with all Forest interests involved. It has worked for 900 years so far."

Commoners Defence Association chairman Mike Cooper said: "They have not taken enough time to create such a park. The consultation has been minimal. Our membership has grave reservations as to the future of such a National Park." But New Forest East constituency Labour party chairman Pete Sopowski said park status would "ensure that the area has the recognition, protection and funding it deserves to safeguard it for future generations".

He said: "The decision will be seen by many as a positive move to protect the environment and enhance the local economy."

National Park status means that ministers have gone beyond the recommendations of the countryside agency that in April last year proposed new legislation to create a "tailor-made" strategic authority for the Forest.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.

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