Day 17: New Forest National Park inquiry

EXTENDING the New Forest into Dorset would dramatically water down its value as a major world heritage site, the National Park inquiry has been told.

Christchurch, East Dorset and Dorset County councils have joined forces in a bid to stay outside any park boundaries, arguing that the decision to include the Avon Valley area is "fundamentally flawed''.

They believe the Countryside Agency has earmarked the land not for its natural beauty, but as an area to dump surplus visitors or facilities incompatible with the more precious Forest heartland.

The three authorities all agree the strip of land running down from Ringwood to Christchurch is not suitable for inclusion in the proposed National Park, and that the boundary should stick to the existing line marking the New Forest Heritage Area.

Representing them at the inquiry in Lyndhurst, landscape architect Justin Thompson said the Avon Valley was completely different to the Forest, and lacked both the requisite scenic quality and recreational opportunities.

"If a New Forest National Park is to be promoted on the world stage as an important heritage site, it does not seem sensible to confuse matters and water it down by including other areas which do not have the same merit,'' he said.

"We do not believe it meets the statutory criteria. A fundamental flaw in the agency's approach is the conclusion that the Lower Avon Valley is an integral part of the Forest landscapes.

"The indications are that such marginal areas on the periphery have not been included on any basis of intrinsic recreational value, but as areas to decant surplus visitors or incompatible facilities from the Forest core.''

However, the agency's landscape expert, Kate Collins, again pointed to the key role the Avon Valley played in providing grazing land for commoners' animals, and said the Forest contained a "remarkable variety'' of landscape types.