Cautiously optimistic about new NPA chief (From Daily Echo)

Cautiously optimistic about new NPA chief

8:02pm Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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“THE ball’s in your court.” That’s the message from campaigners to the new man at the helm of the organisation running the New Forest.

Barrie Foley’s appointment as the National Park Authority’s interim chief executive has been greeted with “cautious optimism”

by those battling controversial plans for the ancient woodland.

The 51-year-old replaces Lindsay Cornish who quit last week after an anonymous letter criticising her management style was sent to one of Britain’s top civil servants.

It was purported to have been written by some members of staff at the authority.

Mr Foley’s major task will be to oversee the redrafting of a controversial blueprint for the Forest’s future, which includes dog-free car parks, curbs on horse keeping and the possibility of road tolls.

It has provoked a revolt across the Forest with thousands of objections and three separate groups set up to fight it.

Tina Cant from Forest Uprising said: “We are just hoping that he will bring a fresh start and an open and integrated approach.

“We are greeting it with cautious optimism – we will make an open overture to say we are here if he wants to talk, but he must have lots on his plate, so the ball’s in his court.”

However, another campaign group, One Voice, has criticised the new chief executive for failing to announce that he had attended its public protest meeting on Monday night.

Group leader Sue Baillie said: “If that demonstrates how he intends to work, then it is not that transparent. He could have had the courtesy to ask our chairman for a quick chat beforehand or afterwards.”

Mr Foley said he had not yet been appointed to his new role and was there to listen to views having read about the meeting in the Daily Echo.

He said: “The one thing I can categorically say is that I was at that meeting to listen. There was absolutely no intention of underhandedness.

I live in the New Forest and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with and give something back to the local community.”

The married-father-of-five has more than 30 years’ business experience and moved to the New Forest in 1985. He now lives in Pennington and lists walking the family dog in the New Forest among his hobbies.

Most recently he has worked on environmental projects for international businesses. Earlier in his career he worked for the Mars Corporation and Exxon Petroleum based at Fawley.

He added: “I am passionate about keeping the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Forest but at the same time recognise the need to manage change.”