Thursday 25 June 2009

New Forest National Park Chief Executive To Step Down

At the June meeting of the New Forest National Park Authority, Lindsay Cornish the Chief Executive Officer of the NFNPA has announced her resignation.

In her statement she remarked:

"Over the last four years I have dedicated myself to the development of an organisation which I hope will continue to champion the New Forest long after I have gone."


Clive Chatters, Chairman of the NFNPA followed up with praise for Lindsay's achievements including setting up the Authority as "a stable, well run organisation" and her help in securing the Single Farm Payment for the whole of the Forest on behalf of the commoners, as well as getting the planning service up and running for "day one" of the authority.

The NFA are saddened by the nature of her departure, and feel it is particularly unfortunate that her achievements should be overshadowed by recent events.

[Read the full text of the Chief Executive's Statement here and the Chairman's Statement here]

Statement by Lindsay Cornish Chief Executive of the New Forest National Park Authority

After deep reflection and discussion with the Chairman it is with considerable sadness that I have decided to leave the Authority.

Over the last four years I have dedicated myself to the development of an organisation which I hope will continue to champion the New Forest long after I have gone. My staff are passionate about the New Forest and its future, dedicated and highly professional and have already achieved much, for example in support the work and role of commoners and in securing significant amounts of external funding to assist local community projects.

As those who are close to me know, it has always been my intention to pass the baton on to a fresh pair of hands once the Authority is fully established. I had hoped that this would coincide with the completion of the first national park management plan, originally scheduled for earlier this year. Now that the Plan has been further delayed, and I would shortly have completed four years in post I have reviewed my position. I also believe that the recent perception of me and my role by some sections of the public, ill-informed and libellous as some of it is, may be damaging the reputation of the entire Authority.

For these, and other personal reasons, I will therefore be leaving the Authority at the end of the month.

I would like to give particular thanks to : the two Chairmen I have worked with and who have given me invaluable support and encouragement; to my staff for the excellent work they do; and to a number of colleagues from key Forest organisations who have been willing to work constructively with the Authority, and to support me personally, notwithstanding our sometimes fundamentally different starting points, to achieve what is best for the Forest.

I will not be making any other statements and would ask for privacy while I remain in post and thereafter.

Statement by Clive Chatters, Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority

Members, setting up a new National Park Authority is a challenge. This is the first time it has been done for over fifty years.

Over the last four years Lindsay has taken us through that process to establish a stable, well run organisation. Throughout her time with us Lindsay has shown great commitment and dedication to the New Forest, the National Park and the Authority.

Not only has the establishment of the organisation been a significant achievement in its own right but there is much by way of other successes to celebrate and I have selected two items to comment on.

For many years many organisations have sought to provide support for the Forest's commoning economy. This has proved very difficult as our circumstances here do not comfortably fit into the national picture. Lindsay's knowledge of how Defra works was fundamental in securing the Single Farm Payment for the whole of the open Forest to the considerable financial benefit of all practising Commoners.

Similarly the establishment of the planning service for the national park was a hugely complex process fraught with risk. If the service was not ready to run on 'day one' we could not have continued to provide a timely and proper service to local people seeking planning permission. As one member commented at the time, the achievement was nothing short of miraculous.

Members, I have known for some time about Lindsay's views on the need to hand over to a successor at the right time and I understand and respect her reasoning on this. It saddens me that some parties have more recently chosen to make personal and offensive comments about her. Such nasty behaviour falls outside what I regard as common decency; I will deal with that matter separately.

I am sure that all members will join me in thanking Lindsay for her singular contribution to the creation and achievements of the National Park Authority and in wishing Lindsay well for the future

Wednesday 17 June 2009

Verderers Reject Mobile Shop Proposal

After one of the longest Verderers Courts of recent times (nearly an hour), consisting of many Presentments against the Forest Holidays Mobile Shop proposal, including the NFA's, and only two Forest Marque producers lobbying for the proposal, the Verderers have turned Forest Holidays down. The Verderers have issued this press release:


FOREST HOLIDAYS RETAIL VAN

In view of their existing policies on camping and recreational facilities, the Verderers have today decided that they are regrettably unable to give their agreement to the provision of a mobile shop at three of the Forestry Commission’s campsites in the New Forest.

The decision has been taken in response to an earlier request for the Verderers’ agreement under the provisions of Section 1(2) of the New Forest Act of 1970.

Written reasons for the decision will be given in a letter to the Deputy Surveyor, Mr Michael Seddon, a copy of which will be available on the Verderers’ website.

The Official Verderer said “This has not been an easy decision to make because we do sympathise with the Forestry Commission’s wish to make these campsites viable, but our policy is very clear on these sorts of matters and we sadly cannot support further urbanisation of the Open Forest”.


In a more detailed response to the Deputy Surveyor, the Official Verderer gave more detailed reasons for the rejection including "a mobile shop will further impinge on the peace and tranquillity that is offered by the open Forest; [and would] encourage the ongoing interference with the exercise of common rights on the Open forest".

[To read the full Letter to the Deputy Surveyor, click here (document maintained by the Verderers http://www.verderers.org.uk/)]

New Forest Association Further Slams Forest Holidays Disregard for Forest Law

At the June Verderers court the NFA once again attacked Forest Holidays for their blatant disregard for the New Forest Acts. The New Forest Acts require application to the Verderers for any new facility, equipment or accommodation. Forest Holidays have expressed a mistaken notion that they did not require the Verderers consent for the proposed mobile shops, asking only for "agreement and support". Forest Holidays have already begun to offer pre-erected tents and pre-pitched caravans for which they have not even bothered to ask permission of the Verderers.

In their presentment, the NFA contended that this is a very serious breach of both the spirit and the letter of the law:

"We would urge the Verderers to use every means at their disposal to ensure that they [the New Forest Acts] are adhered to. We ask the Verderers to reject the mobile shop, and to ask Forest Holidays to immediately cease and desist providing the pre-pitched tents and caravans on any New Forest Campsite.

Forest Holidays and the Forestry Commission should not be permitted to ignore the guidance of the Verderers or their protective duties to the Forest under the New Forest Acts."


The Verderers will announce their response to the Mobile Shop proposal after their post court meeting. The NFA will continue to press the issue of the pre-pitched tents and caravans.

[To read a full text of the NFA June presentment , see the first comment below, or click here.]