New Forest mobile cafe plans a 'recipe for disaster', Commoners warn

Plans for mobile cafes in the New Forest are a “recipe for disaster”, Forestry England has been warned.

Hampshire National Park Commoners say families queuing for cakes and hot drinks will be at risk of pony attacks and this should not be disregarded for “quick monetary gains”.

Forestry England wants to extend the remit of food vans to include the sale of hot drinks and snacks in what they call a “real improvement and modernisation in quality” of catering.

In an “unusual” step, Andrew Parry-Norton, the Commoners Defence Association chairman, urged the verderers – an ancient body responsible for the upkeep of the forest – to block the plan.

Speaking at this month’s court session, he said: “All organisations in the Forest are financially struggling and looking to bolster loss of government income… but we must be respectful of the environment we have inherited.

“Quick monetary gains, at other’s expense and risk is unacceptable. The proposed selling of food such as sandwiches and cakes, licensed by Forestry England in the car parks, could be a recipe for disaster.

“Commoners’ stock interacting with visitors is already a major concern, adding families queuing, then eating cakes and sandwiches, will draw ponies into conflict with the visitors.

“Pigs will quickly learn to use this new food source, which is unlawful and can have serious disease consequences.”