Announcements, news and media releases

Please direct all enquiries regarding Announcements and Press Releases to the Clerk to the Verderers.

Announcement: Monday 10^th June 2008

HIT and RUN 5^th June 2008

Witnesses are sought following a Hit and Run road traffic accident in which a foal was killed having been hit and dragged along the road. The accident happened just after 5.30 a.m. on Thursday 5th June on the B3078 at Crows Nest (close to the B3078 junction with the road to Nomansland). The driver failed to stop and has not reported the accident.

Anyone who can assist with information is requested to telephone WPC Alison Tilbury on the usual police number 0845 045 4545, quoting 44 08 0244822.

A reward of upto £1,000 may be payable for information that leads to the conviction of a driver responsible for a hit and run RTA.

The Verderers are appealing for the gentleman who provided information on this incident to call and provide his name and telephone number.

Announcement: Wednesday 19^th December 2007

Amended Byelaws

In accordance with the provisions of the New Forest Acts, the Verderers of the New Forest adopted their amended byelaws on Wednesday 19th December 2007. Copies are available for inspection during normal working hours at the Verderers’ office or are available for download now.

Written representations relating to the amended byelaws should be sent to the Clerk to the Verderers at The Queen’s House, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NH by Friday 1st February 2008.

The Verderers intend to apply for confirmation of their amended byelaws by the relevant Minister at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs no earlier than Friday 8th February 2008.

Postscript: The Official Verderer has announced in Open Court that: “As planned we have now sent the Minister our amended byelaws along with copies of all correspondence that we have received on the subject, and any presentments that have been made, since August 8th. We hope that they will be confirmed in due course.”

Press Release: Tuesday 29^th May 2007

Welfare tour of the Forest

The Verderers' Spring Welfare Tour was held today, attended by representatives of the RSPCA, the British Horse Society, International League for the Protection of Horses, the Blue Cross, the Donkey Sanctuary, the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association and the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, as well as Veterinary officers from DEFRA.

The Verderers' Welfare Tours take place every spring and winter, and give an important twice-yearly opportunity for the national and local welfare organisations to see the condition of the stock for themselves. The tour covered a wide area of the Forest and over 500 ponies were inspected, as well as numerous cattle and 12 donkeys.

Overall the unanimous conclusion of the representatives was that the animals looked well and their condition was good all round, despite the very dry early spring which restricted the growth of the grass. Once again the work of the Agisters, who look after the welfare of the animals on the Forest, was specifically praised.

The Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, said: "It is the prime duty of our organisation to ensure the ongoing welfare of the animals on the Forest, and we are obviously pleased that yet again the country's foremost animal charities have endorsed our work and praised the condition of the stock on the Forest".

Press Release: Tuesday 9^th January 2007

Successful prosecution - non-payment Marking Fees

At the Southampton Magistrates Court on Friday 5^th January 2007 Mr Malcolm Horsbrough was successfully prosecuted by the Verderers for non-payment of his annual marking fees due under the Verderers' byelaws. Mr Horsbrough was fined £200, which is the maximum fine allowable for this particular offence, and he was ordered to pay £500 towards the Verderers' legal costs.

The Verderers brought this prosecution in pursuit of their long-standing policy of enforcing their byelaws where necessary.

The Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, said: "It is unfortunate that once again we have had to resort to the Magistrates Courts in order to collect marking fees that are lawfully due, however it is only right and proper that we should pursue those who persistently refuse to pay".

Press Release: Monday 24^th January 2005

Hollands Wood and Roundhill campsites

The Deputy Surveyor made a Presentment to the Verderers on November 17^th requesting their consent under Section 23(2) of the Countryside Act 1968, and Section 1 of the New Forest Act 1970 to the development of new and some additional facilities at the Hollands Wood and Roundhill campsites. At the monthly court held on January 19th 2005 in the Verderers Hall in Lyndhurst twelve Presentments were made, of which nine were made in objection to the Forestry Commission's proposals. The matter was subsequently considered in Committee.

The Verderers policy in respect of recreation and development is:
"To support recreational use or development that does not conflict with the ecological or other scientific qualities of the Forest, or its natural beauty and traditional character, including its peacefulness, unique cultural heritage and agricultural/Commoning practises". They also have a policy to support the Declaration of Intent which was signed by the Forestry Commission, English Nature and the Verderers in 1995 and which states that all three signatories recognise that "the prime objective of Forest management shall be the conservation of the traditional character of the New Forest." The declaration also recognised the Verderers' responsibility for "protecting the Forest against intrusive development and conserving its aesthetic qualities, flora and fauna".

After considering the Forestry Commission's Presentment with great care, and having taken into account the presentments made in writing and in the open session of the Court by the public, the Verderers have decided to withhold their consent on the basis that these proposals are contrary to their policy on recreation and development.

The Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, said: "We have always been in favour of camping in the New Forest, and we still are, which is why this has been such a difficult decision to take. The Forest is one of the most heavily protected conservation areas in the world, and quite rightly so. We have had to bear this very much in mind when considering the Forestry Commission's request for consent to significantly modernise and upgrade the facilities at both these campsites. The decision presented us with a classic conflict between recreation and conservation. We firmly believe that whenever possible the Forest's unique landscape must be protected from creeping urbanisation, and as Verderers we felt we had no option but to put the Forest first".

The rationale for the refusal of consent, and the statement on signing the Appropriate Assessment are available for download.

Press Release: Friday 22^nd July 2005

Convictions for breach of Verderers' Byelaws

The trial of various commoners for breach of the Verderers' bye-laws concluded today in the Southampton Magistrates' Court, with District Judge Gillibrand giving his decision as follows:

Austin Young, not guilty on both summonses for non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of ponies and cattle.
Andrew Young, guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of cattle, not guilty in respect of ponies.
Colin Barnes, guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of cattle, and in respect of ponies.
Peter Burgess, guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of cattle, not guilty in respect of ponies.
Malcolm Horsbrough, not guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of ponies.
John Kilford, not guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of ponies.
Roland Bessant, guilty in respect of non-payment of Marking Fees in respect of ponies.

Mr Bessant and Mr Barnes were not present in Court, and were thus not sentenced in their absence. Their sentencing will take place on August 22^nd at 10.00 a.m. in the Southampton Magistrates Courts before District Judge Gillibrand. Andrew Young was given a Conditional Discharge for twelve months, and he was ordered to pay £100 towards the Verderers' costs. He was also ordered to pay £75 compensation in respect of the unpaid Marking Fees. Peter Burgess was given a Conditional Discharge for twelve months, and he was ordered to pay £100 towards the Verderers' costs. He was also ordered to pay £50 compensation in respect of the unpaid Marking Fees. Both defendants were ordered to pay within twenty-eight days.

The Official Verderer, Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, said: "We are pleased we have shown that the Verderers' bye-laws are enforceable throughout the whole of the New Forest, and we will enforce them where necessary. We were particularly pleased to hear the Judge's praise for the valuable service that the Verderers provide for the New Forest's commoners and their stock, and that he found our team of Agisters, in giving their evidence, to be a most impressive and professional group of people. Now that the trial is over we wholeheartedly support the Judge's opinion that we should all now put this matter behind us, and move on".