Hustings at Bramshaw Village Hall ahead of New Forest verderers election

A HUSTINGS event has been organised ahead of the verderers elections later this month.

Commoners can hear from and question those who are standing to become a new elected verderer at the mid-term meeting of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA) tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm at Bramshaw Village Hall.

The Verderers’ Court comprises 10 unpaid representatives, five of whom are appointed. The remaining five are elected on a rolling basis.

On Tuesday 26th November the current terms of office for elected verderers Dave Readhead and Graham Ferris will come to an end and two replacements will be appointed.

The candidates are: Mark Ferrett of Locklerley, Kay Harrison of Bramshaw, Gillian Jones of Holbury and Alison Tilbury of Exbury.

During the hustings, each candidate will have a chance to pitch themselves and outline their plans for the Forest. They will then be quizzed by CDA chair Andrew Parry-Norton about their manifesto, and this will be followed by questions from the floor.

Commoners with an acre of land with Forest Rights are eligible to cast a vote to appoint two verderers. Voting will take place at four polling stations in the Forest: the Verderers’ Hall in Lyndhurst, Avonway Community Centre in Fordingbridge, Lymington town hall, and Carvers Clubhouse in Ringwood.

The results of the election will be announced the following day.