No to New Forest National Park

Salisbury MP Robert Key has confirmed his opposition to the creation of a new National Park for the New Forest, to be announced by the Government today.

Robert Key said, “the Southern parishes of Salisbury constituency will be included in the so called ‘New Forest Heritage Area’. I fear for their future prosperity. House prices will rise even more and jobs will be difficult to create”.

Robert Key has opposed a New Forest National Park since the day it was suggested. He argues that legislation has protected the New Forest for a thousand years and its unique governance by the Court of Verderers is working well, in harmony with democratic District and Parish Councils.

“This new monster will remove existing democratic control to an appointed quango. Another layer of unelected bureaucracy will stifle initiative and turn the forest and the heritage area into a museum, not a living, working community.”