At the May Verderers Court the NFA launched a pre-emptive strike against Forest Holidays proposal to run a twice daily retail van mobile shop service to three of of their New Forest campsites. The Deputy Surveyor presented the proposal to the court on behalf of Forest Holidays, asking for the Verderers “agreement and support” for the proposal. The proposal claims the service would champion the New Forest Marque local produce and would reduce car pollution from campers off-site journeys.
The NFA Presentment took issue, claiming the proposal “fails on its supposed merits.” In hiding their proposal behind the New Forest Marque, “They have dressed up their Trojan horse to look like a New Forest Pony”, and that once market forces took over Forest Holidays would be unlikely to honour a preference for local produce indefinitely. The supposedly eco-friendly reduction of car journeys presents a similar sham as two of the proposed campsites are within easy walking distance of the local shops. Local businesses would inevitably suffer loss of both direct and passing trade. The forest would suffer further ecologically if more goods are bought and consumed on site producing more rubbish and packaging waste.
The NFA further chided Forest Holidays for their overly commercialized attitude as “wholly inappropriate” to the New Forest, and for failing to show the court respect by issuing the proposal through the Forestry Commission rather than sending their own representative.
The Verderers are due to make a decision on the proposal after hearing more from the public during the upcoming June court.
[To read a full text of the NFA May presentment , see the first comment below, or click here.]