Commoners Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton accused Verderers’ Court over New Forest mobile cafes decision

THE Verderers’ Court has been accused of ignoring commoners’ pleas by allowing mobile cafes to operate in a number of New Forest car parks.

As reported, Forestry England wanted the verderers’ backing in granting licences to allow cakes and hot drinks to be sold at visitor hot spots to generate additional revenue.

The scheme, which extends the remit of ice cream vans, is set to be rolled out at Bolderwood, Blackwater, Wilverley, Dibden and Bolton’s Bench in Lyndhurst.

Despite strong opposition from a number of groups including the Commoners Defence Association, the New Forest Young Commoners and the Friends of the New Forest, the verderers gave their backing to the plans last month.

Now, Commoners Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton has implored the body to rethink its decision.

Speaking at the Verderers’ Court, Mr Parry-Norton said: “Last month you heard three presentments which I am sure left you in no doubt that selling food in the car parks was a bad idea, putting commoners at financial risk and the public at potential physical harm.”

He continued: “The majority of verderers chose to ignore the commoners that they represent, and approve the Forestry England licence.”

Mr Parry-Norton alleged the vote was taken with “extreme haste”.

Claiming that the Verderers’ Court failed to adhere to its own policies which “seek to reduce any harmful effects of other users of the Forest upon commoning”, Mr Parry-Norton said it had not represented the best interests of commoners.

He said: “We now have the situation where we have two vendors at Bolton’s Bench: one selling ice creams and another cakes and pastries. Already a vendor has not adhered to the terms of the licence, selling sausage rolls over the Easter weekend.

“The CDA accepts that visitors bring their own food to the Forest, a situation beyond anyone’s control, but to have families queuing and concentrating the food source in already crowded hot spots such as Bolton’s Bench only increases the potential for public injury or even worse.”

The meeting also heard from CDA secretary Hilary Harper who said: “It would be rather an understatement to say that our association is extremely disappointed that the presentments made at the March court failed to convince the verderers to refuse the Forestry England request to extend the catering offerings at some car parks.”

Revealing that commoners’ biggest fear was the risk of livestock interacting with people, which would “unquestionably” increase by extra food outlets, Ms Harper continued: “Almost all injuries result in a compensation claim, always against the animal owner. This increased risk is effectively being borne by the commoners, the livestock owners, while all benefits accrue to the traders and Forestry England alone.”

Stating that Forestry England should publish a personal injury risk assessment for the mobile cafes which was available for public scrutiny, Ms Harper added: “If an incident occurs and a commoner finds themselves being investigated or involved in court action, then this presentment will be used as evidence that this undesired activity and unacceptable risk was introduced much against the will and advice of the commoners.”

Commoner Mark Ferrett also urged the verderers to reconsider their support for the plans which were putting “the future of commoning” at risk.

He warned: “Your decision to put people in danger with my ponies and all the other commoners’ stock does not make common sense, it’s not about me and all the older generation commoners, it’s about my daughter, my grandchildren and the young commoners of the New Forest who made a very sensible plea to yourselves in the last court for this not to happen.”