NATIONAL lottery bosses are withholding cash for a unique project in the New Forest following a row over the choice of leader.

The New Forest Trust (NFT) was awarded a £29,000 grant to compile an oral history of commoning, the system under which villagers can let their ponies and cattle roam the area.

However, commoners objected after Bramshaw businessman Denis Shaughnessy was chosen to head the project.

Mr Shaughnessy is chairman of his local parish council but members of the Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) described him as an outsider and claimed that one of the other applicants, historian Jo Ivey, should have been given the job.

Now the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has decided to withhold funding for the project until a second selection process has taken place.

A HLF spokesman said the trust failed to comply with the agreed criteria when it chose Mr Shaughnessy and confirmed that it would monitor the new attempt to recruit a team leader.

She added: “We will suggest to the trust that it may be prudent to run everything past the CDA before making a formal appointment.”

People involved in the project will interview older commoners and record their memories of the Forest.

NFT chairman Richard Manley – a former head of the CDA – said the original advertisement for a leader had resulted in about 15 applications.

He added: “Mr Shaughnessy was the best candidate but there was a minor problem with the recruitment process and a complaint was made. As a result, both we and the fund feel it best to start again.”

Mr Manley confirmed that Mr Shaughnessy is free to reapply for the job.

Dr Ivey, of East Boldre, said the successful applicant should have a thorough knowledge of commoning and command the support of the commoning community.

She added: “A rerun is welcome but it must be closely monitored and the commoners fully consulted if this important project is to achieve its aim of sensitively recording the life histories of commoners for future generations.”

Mr Shaughnessy was unavailable for comment.