Letter: Hatchet Pond plans are very questionable

SIR – Having read the proposals to relocate the car park at Hatchet Pond (A&T, 13th January), I felt I must present an alternative point of view as I, and several other well qualified naturalists, did to the national park authority when the planning application was first put forward.

I welcome the measures taken by Forestry England to remove the non-native carp from the pond – since replaced by catfish, I am told – and removal of the leaky toilet block; people will now use the bushes, of course.

However, there are a number of statements made in the article and the planning application which are very questionable.

There appears to be no evidence that the present situation is harming rare species or that the flora and fauna will be protected by the proposal.

There has been no evidence given that the plants and wildlife here are in “severe decline”.

I have known this site for nearly 50 years as a botanist and general naturalist and wonder how the proposed benefits are to be monitored – will the present car park be restored if there is no demonstrable improvement?

The habitats of the New Forest are too rare and precious to be tampered with in this costly and potentially damaging way.

Alison Bolton,
Boldre