New Forest District Council cabinet approves new powers to ban fires and petting of New Forest animals from July
POWERS to impose £100 fines for lighting a barbecue or fire and feeding or petting New Forest animals will be brought in from July, New Forest District Council has confirmed.
The ruling Conservative cabinet rubber-stamped the plans on Wednesday to bring in the new legal powers to reduce anti-social behaviour.
As reported in the A&T, the proposals to introduce Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) were subject to a public consultation which ended in January.
PSPOs give enforcement powers, including issuing fixed penalty notices for breaches of up to £100 or a fine of up to £1,000 with a magistrates' court prosecution.
The decision was made as video emerged on social media of a child nearly being kicked by a pony on Whitefield Moor in Brockenhurst.
In the footage, two women and three children can be seen getting very close to the animals before a pony starts to buck and one of the girls is whisked away by an adult.
Speaking at the meeting, NFDC deputy leader Cllr Diane Andrews said: "I welcome the introduction of these PSPOs and am confident that once they are in place will contribute to a safer New Forest for our residents and our visitors."
Cllr Edward Heron added the scheme's success would be shown not through the number of fines issued but on the difference it made to the area.
He said: "To me success in this is behavioural change; it would be even if we didn't issue any tickets whatsoever because everyone understood why they shouldn't [be breaking PSPOs].
"I hope this will be one of the measures that help make the Forest safer for all of the people who live here and enjoy it."
Cllr Malcolm Wade, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, agreed and said: "Success to me is the protection of the Forest.
"What is important is not just enforcement but the education of people coming to the Forest on how they can treat it with the respect it deserves and enjoy the environment to everyone's safety and satisfaction."
A report to the cabinet explained a total of 771 responses were received regarding the first order, relating to fires and barbecues, of which 95% agreed with the proposal.
The second order, relating to petting and feeding of ponies, horses, donkeys and mules, had 769 responses of which 91% agreed.
The orders are backed by Forestry England, the New Forest National Park Authority and the verderers, all of which will train staff to enforce the orders.
Training will focus on engagement, explanation and education before enforcement, the cabinet report stressed.
It said: "PSPOs, if used proportionately and in the right circumstances, allow NFDC and their partners to counter unreasonable and persistent behaviour as they grant stronger enforcement powers and the ability to issue fixed penalties for breaches.
"Although the vast majority of people enjoying the Forest do so with due regard to the New Forest Code, by making these PSPOs NFDC expect a reduction in anti-social behaviour associated with wildfires and barbecues on the forest and the feeding and petting of Forest animals, all of which are detrimental to the local community
"Formal enforcement will be used proportionately and there will be information issued about these new restrictions and clear signage will be in place."
