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National Park decision put back
The New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) has given itself more time to come up with a draft plan for the future of the park, after it was inundated with replies to a public consultation.
The approval of the authority's National Park Plan has been extended to the end of October, to allow "adequate time for the draft to be revised in the light of the many comments received".
Clive Chatters, chair of NFNPA, said the authority's priority would be to look at the large number of "constructive and critical" comments that it has received during the consultation.
"Given our commitment to listen to the views expressed, we have taken the time to go through the thousands of consultation responses carefully," he added. "It simply would not be possible to do this and revise and rewrite the draft Plan in time for July."
When completed, the National Park Plan will be used to implement the future strategy for the park - including issues such as the possible rezoning of the National Park, housing, transport and socio-economics.
The news of the delaying of the draft plan came on the same day as NFNPA announced that it had appointed a new director of strategy and planning.
Steve Avery, formerly the head of development control at the authority, will take over the position from Richard Lemon, who is set to leave the organisation later this month.