Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the Commoners Defence Association, tells Verderers’ Court pop-up cafes in New Forest should be fenced off
CONTROVERSIAL pop-up cafes in New Forest car parks and beauty spots should be moved to inclosures or fenced off, a leading commoner has demanded.
As reported, a Forestry England decision to license a number of mobile refreshment vans to operate at key visitor sites in the New Forest has been met with fierce opposition from commoners who fear visitors will be targeted by hungry livestock.
The scheme, which will see Forestry England extend the remit of ice cream vans to include the sale of hot drinks and snacks, has been rolled out at Bolderwood, Blackwater, Wilverley, Dibden and Bolton’s Bench in Lyndhurst.
Speaking at the Verderers’ Court, Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the Commoners Defence Association, said that wherever possible mobile cafes should be moved inside inclosures, allowing the public to buy and eat food away from commoners’ ponies.
It was suggested that at spots like Bolton’s Bench, a fenced area be created with a gate access in the car park. The food van would then operate from within the fenced area, said Mr Parry-Norton, adding: “This is to be of a sufficient size to accommodate the queuing public and allow food to be consumed away from the stock.”
Mr Parry-Norton also slammed the risk assessment for the pop-up cafes undertaken by Forestry England.
He said that having seen the risk assessment FE noted that the risk of interaction between livestock due to mobile café sales was classed as a ‘type 3’ incident, adding: “This is a minor injury or reversible illness requiring first aid or minor medical treatment.”
Mr Parry-Norton demanded: “I do wonder if whoever compiled this has ever been kicked by a mare’s hoof at full stretch.”
The court heard that even if an incident was deemed to be minor to the casualty, it would not be so minor to the animal or its owner. “The pony will be ordered off the Forest,” said Mr Parry-Norton. “It might well miss running with the stallions so no foal will be produced.”
He added that if the commoner did not have enough grazing and winter food for the pony, the “minor incident” could become a death sentence with the “most probable outcome” it would be put down.
“Stock turned out by commoners is the foundation stone of the New Forest,” he warned. “Commoners’ stock has created the landscape over generations; the ecology this practice has created is of national importance, millions of visitors travel and stay in the park’s boundaries to admire the free-roaming ponies and the unique setting.”
Describing commoners as universally hard working and dedicated to their animals, Mr Parry-Norton said they should not be subjected to unnecessary risk, worry and financial burden.
“We hope that the verderers who approved the FE application, upon reflection, reverse their judgement for the licence renewal in two years’ time but we thank the ones who supported the commoners.”
