Archived decisions

CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY - "A NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK : PROPOSED BOUNDARY" AND "A NEW FOREST

NATIONAL PARK : PROPOSED SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS"

1. The Cabinet has responded to two consultation documents published by the Countryside Agency in relation to the proposed designation of the New Forest National Park, one relating to the proposed National Park boundary and the other in respect of the proposed special arrangements for the establishment of the Park. This formal response follows informal consultations by, and discussions with, the Countryside Agency during the course of which some, but not all, of the detailed comments made by the County Council have been taken on board. It also reflects comments made by the Environment Policy Review Committee which was asked by the Cabinet to examine the proposals in detail.

2. In summary, in its formal response, the County Council supports the boundary for the New Forest National Park as proposed by the Agency (see Appendix 1) but is not convinced that a traditional National Park Authority is the appropriate solution because of the special characteristics of the area and its lack of direct democratic accountability. Accordingly it has asked the Agency - rather than adopting a traditional national park authority model - to develop a tailor-made solution for the New Forest. The following points are among those made in the County Council's detailed response:-

· support for the proposal to issue special advice to promote integrated working between the proposed National Park Authority and other parties


· support for the proposal to delegate development control to the existing local authorities and, whilst preferring a transfer of responsibility for preparation of development plans back to the local authorities, acceptance of the Countryside Agency's preferred option for the preparation of development plans which is as follows:-


(i) a joint structure plan between the proposed National Park Authority and the Hampshire County Structure Plan authorities;


(ii) a joint local plan between the proposed National Park Authority and New Forest District Council and


(iii) a joint minerals and waste local plan between the proposed National Park Authority and the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan authorities with input from the other local authorities around the National Park as Consultees.


· a request that further consideration be given to the respective roles of the Forestry Commission and the proposed National Park Authority in the management of Crown land


· in respect of visitor management, agreement that rights of way should remain the responsibility of the highway authorities but a request that the Countryside Agency should address heritage-related issues more specifically and in particular how the historical, archaeological and architectural character of the New Forest is to be conserved and enhanced


· support for the wide involvement of different interests in the work of the proposed National Park Authority, and the use of local expertise

3. The Countryside Agency will shortly agree to publish a Designation Order for the National Park. There will inevitably be objections to aspects of the Countryside Agency's proposals and accordingly a public inquiry will be necessary; the formal creation of the New Forest National Park is, therefore, at least two years away, if not longer.

5nR261101