Commoners Defence Association wants New Forest car park closures to stop wild camping

NEW Forest car parks should be shut from dusk until dawn in a bid to combat wild camping, a leading commoner has suggested.

Raising the particular issue of camper vans staying overnight, Commoners Defence Association (CDA) chair Charlotte Lines told the Verderers' Court that her members had reported spotting the vehicles at several locations.

She said they had been seen as Moonhills, the Royal Oak at Hill Top and James Hill car park on consecutive nights.

“We would also like to flag we are aware of other activities taking place in some of the Forestry England car parks in the north of the Forest which gives us cause for concern," she said.

Suggesting that national park authority and Forestry England rangers should lock car park barriers between dusk and dawn, Ms Lines also asked for vehicle movements to be recorded and passed to relevant authorities.

Commoner Brian Ingram agreed camping in Forest car parks was now taking place on a regular basis.

He added: “Last night at 5pm two camper vans were pulled into the pub at Hill Top – at 9am this morning they were still there.”