Letters: We need even-handed balance between New Forest interests

SIR — I was concerned to learn from the A&T (25th January) that 15 million people a year visit the Forest.

This is approximately 23% of our total population of 66-million, so there must have been some heavy double counting. Of course the New Forest is popular and the visitors to it have to be managed, not necessarily curtailed.

The suggestion that some car parks, public toilets and tracks should be closed to direct people from sensitive areas, would be better served if these facilities were retained, with short periods of closure if found to be necessary, to spare the habitat from overuse.

After many years of public access, in the past year or so earth banks have been put in place to restrict access along the Burley road between the Thorney Hill crossroads and Burley. No doubt this has been replicated in other areas of the New Forest.

Chris Packham has identified an area of overgrazing, but it needs to be pointed out that the commoners supplement the fielding of their ponies by importing fodder. Of course the number of ponies should be moderated to suit what the Forest can bear.

House prices may be beyond the reach of many in the New Forest, but this is a cause for concern throughout the west of the country and particularly in the south east of England.

More attention should be paid to warning motorists of the presence of animals on the Forest roads, not just ponies, and how to contact the authorities if accidents occur.

I totally support recent letters suggesting the use of speed cameras and traffic calming measures.

A balance needs to be struck between the use of the New Forest by residents and visitors, the needs of the animals, safety measures and the natural flora and fauna.

I am not too sure that the officers of the national park authority are even-handed in their decision-making with regard to the use of the New Forest. I would like to be convinced that they are.

Robert Walton,

Ringwood Road,

Bransgore