Mobile cafes scheme sparks New Forest safety warning

Refreshment vans selling hot drinks and snacks will be permitted to visit five sites in the district, including Bolten's Bench in Lyndhurst, under proposals drawn up by Forestry England.

The scheme has been criticised by the Commoners' Defence Association, which represents the owners of the Forest's free-roaming animals.

Members fear visitors could be injured by livestock, especially ponies in search of food.

Campaigners fear the mobile cafes could result in visitors getting too close to the Forest's free-roaming animals (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking at the Verderers' Court, CDA chairman Andrew Parry-Norton said: "The proposed selling of food in car parks could be a recipe for disaster.

"Commoners' stock interacting with visitors is already a major concern. Families queuing, then eating cakes and sandwiches, will draw ponies into conflict with the visitors.

"Putting the public at physical risk and the commoners facing further potential litigation is not acceptable."

The scheme also came under fire from Louise England, chairman of New Forest Young Commoners.

She said: "We are concerned that the proposal in the longer term will introduce an element of urbanisation, changing the natural environment forever,  mimicking what is available at many less unique places.

"Once introduced it would be impossible to turn back the clock and recover what is lost."

New Forest ponies look friendly but can kick and bite, especially mares with foals (Image: Annette Gregory)

Peter Frost, vice-chairman of Friends of the New Forest, added: "Such outlets can only increase adverse interaction between visitors and commoners' stock, attract vermin, and raise the spectre of increased competition for hard-pressed local traders."

Other speakers included Brian Tarnoff, chairman of the New Forest Consultative Panel.

He said: "Forestry England has pledged to manage the Crown lands as a national nature reserve. With this in mind, it is hard to fathom how honeypot food van pitches could be established here."

The issuing of licences will help fund work carried out by Forestry England.

Craig Harrison, the organisation's most senior officer in the district, said the vehicles would be located in "robust locations" that already supported large numbers of visitors.

Organisations have repeatedly what can happen when visitors get too close to the Forest's famous ponies.

A statement on the National Park Authority's website says they may look friendly but can kick and bite, especially mares with foals.

It adds: "Some ponies and donkeys develop an unhealthy craving for human food and become aggressive with people who, quite rightly, try to keep their picnics to themselves.

"The animals also tend to gather near roads, looking for people with food, and this makes them more vulnerable to traffic accidents."