Click on the link to 'SPEECHES' for NFDOG's presentation to the National Park Authority meeting 16.10.2008, and Clive Chatters 'response' a week later.

A video of our Brockenhurst meeting (12 October) was made by John Beale, and covers the entire day. If you missed any of the speeches, or would like to see them again, copies (on 2 DVDs) are available for £20.00, details as below:

Cheque payable to John Beale (NFDOG is acting as 'middle-man', without charge)
Send (with name & address) to Penny Gayler, NFDOG
Higham House, Tiptoe Road, Wooton, New Milton, BH25 5SJ

Your had your chance to protest, and you did your committee proud! Our 'surgery' at Brockenhurst Village Hall this Sunday 12th October was packed to capacity from beginning to end (10am to 4pm).
Our format and timing went out the window, as we had so many heavyweight speakers rolling up early, staying hours longer than anticipated, and you, the audience, had a hungry appetite for asking questions and demanding answers. As that is why you were there, our Chairman Pauline Ludlow allowed these sessions to continue, with a short break for lunch.

We had a real scoop in attracting not just the support of our 2 local politicians and the head of Hampshire County Council, but we triumphed in forcing to the table both the executive arm of the National Park Authority (Stephen Trotter), and the Chairman himself, Clive Chatters.

They bravely attempted to hold their corner, but the audience clearly were not in a mood to listen to or believe their reassuring comments about the 'listening Park'.

The press, both TV and newspapers, were there in force in the morning, and we have recieved widespread sympathetic coverage as a result.

Maureen Holding, a councillor and a member of the National Park Authority, read out a lengthy letter from the legal team of the NPA instructing her in stark terms that if she commented in any way on the Plan, she would be removed from office and disqualified from voting on its adoption. She made superbly clear that she had every intention of supporting her electorate very forcefully and would be casting her vote!

The (alphabetical) list of speakers included:

Clive Chatters – National Park Authority Chairman
David Dickenson, Committee Member NFDOG
Desmond Swayne MP
Holly Lee - Kennel Club
Julian Lewis MP
Roy Perry, Cllr. Brockenhurst PC
Ken Thorber, Cllr. - Head of Hants CC
Maureen Holding, Cllr. - National Park Authority member
Stephen Trotter – National Park Authority executive
Thorold Masefield, Cllr. - Chairman Brockenhurst PC
Tina Cant - Forest Uprising Group

WHAT'S IT ABOUT??

The New Forest Dog Owners Group was formed when there were rumours that it was proposed to take away the right of dog owners to walk in the New Forest off-lead. Now the National Park Authority is proposing to take away the ability of dog owners to walk in some or most parts of the New Forest at any time.

The New Forest National Park Authority has tossed aside months of consultations with local stakeholders, and proposes swingeing restrictions on traditional Forest users, primarily dog owners but also other groups that regularly use the Forest.

What can you do?

• The official consultation period ended 14 November 2008, and you can no longer formally reply to the National park Authority
• NFDOG and other stakeholders will be having meetings with the NPA in future months
• If you come across new items relevant to dog walking that concern you in either of the two documents, please contact us to let us know.
• *** Ensure you and other dog owners join NFDOG today! ***.
• The higher the membership, the more they are obliged to listen to us.
• Sign the petition to Downing Street NOW!
• Keep an eye on this noticeboard. The New Forest Dog Owners Group will be continuing a response appropriate to the massive threat to dog walking in the New Forest, and we will inform members of our progress.