NATIONAL park bosses have received a formal complaint over the way they informed the public about controversial plans for the New Forest.

The 18-page complaint has been lodged as the New Forest National Park Authority prepares for the next stage of its consultation over blueprints for the ancient woodland and heath.

Campaign group One Voice accused the authority of “tunnel vision” in creating two huge draft documents relating to the future of the New Forest.

Their hand-delivered complaint said: “The NFNPA have acted with tunnel vision to achieve their ultimate goals and have paid little regard or respect for the people who should have been included from the very beginning – the general public.”

It is the latest blow for the NPA after it endured a stormy consultation process in autumn 2008.

A series of high profile protests and rallies were staged and thousands signed a petition opposing the double document, which includes restrictions on keeping horses for recreational use and moves to curb dog walking.

The process for adopting the plan is set to continue when dates are set for a number of workshops and meetings with ‘key groups’.

The NPA’s director of strategy and planning, Richard Lemon, said letters would also be sent to those who responded during the initial consultation process.

He said: “The Plan raised some contentious issues and we want to work with resident groups, parish councils, businesses, organisations, interest groups and local authorities to make the Park Plan a document that sets the right vision and objectives, and contains policies which protect and manage the National Park for the next 20 years.”

The Park Plan is earmarked for approval by the authority in May.

The section of the Park Plan that forms the Local Development Framework Core Strategy will then be the subject of a further six-week public consultation prior to submission to the Government.

An NPA spokesman was unavailable for comment on the One Voice complaint.