A PROTEST group set up to oppose controversial blueprints for the future of the New Forest has expressed concerns over new plans.

The New Forest National Park Authority scrapped proposals for road tolls, dog-free car parks and tighter restrictions on horse keeping following protests after the original plan was unveiled last year.

The authority admitted at a recent meeting it had “got it wrong”, announcing a range of policies to support farming, forestry and commoning as well as to protect critical parts of the coastline from rising sea levels.

It also vowed to improve community facilities and services but said that detailed planning policies will be in the core strategy, which is not due to be published until December.

But despite the U-turn, the plans have been met with caution from action group One Voice.

Spokesman Sue Baillie said: “Most people will be happy to see that there are no controversial policies in the revised management plan but we are concerned that the document fails to clearly define any policies – unless the ‘priority actions’ can be loosely interpreted as policy.”

She added: “It appears that the meat in the sandwich will be contained within the core strategy and we shall have to wait for the document’s release on December 3 to read it.

“It is disappointing that we will have only five working days to read what will inevitably be a large set of papers before it goes to the authority for review on December 10 – the same day that the management plan is set for approval.”

A third document dealing with recreational issues will be unveiled early next year, but the interim chief executive of the National Parks Authority has promised “no surprises” following consultations with various protest groups.

The public has until November 12 to comment on the new plan.