PLANS to change parking arrangements at one of the New Forest's most popular beauty spots have received a mixed reaction.

The National Park Authority (NPA) has given the green light to plans to move the Hatchet Pond car park away from the water's edge.

It comes after concerns were raised about the number of people visiting the site, a decline in water quality and a spike in anti-social behaviour.

But the plans have received a mixed reaction from Daily Echo readers.

READ MORE: Car park set to be moved to protect 'too popular' beauty spot

Echo Camera Club member Trev Stadd often visits the site to take photos from his car and watch the wildlife.

He said: "I'm disabled, and this site isn't very wheelchair friendly.

"I enjoy parking in the disabled bays and watching nature and wildlife whilst photographing the wildlife from my car window."

He added: "I agree the site should be protected to whatever extent is needed to protect nature and wildlife.

"There will always be a few that ruin it for the rest and I personally think it will only add to the confusion should the car park be removed."

Lyn Frake added: "It’s a beautiful spot to visit and I’m disabled I’m only able to reach it by car.

"It’s not wheelchair friendly being in the Forest so please don’t close off my enjoyment of being by the water."

Mark Varney said it was a "kneejerk reaction" following an influx of visitors to the site during the pandemic.

"Why are they only planning for the same amount of parking spaces? Complete waste of taxpayers money," he said.

Danny Norman said: "Every day I drive by there and there’s people swimming, dogs swimming, dogs chasing the swans and signets and people feeding and petting the horses and donkeys.

"We can’t have anything decent because people think that their actions don’t apply."

Prendivilee Nicolodian added: "It’s become a nightmare in recent years.

"Some people just won’t do as they’re told, now we’ve all got to suffer the consequences."

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