HOPES for a Lyndhurst bypass look unlikely to come to fruition if policies published by New Forest Verderers today are strictly adhered to.

Hampshire County council is currently re-investigating the possibility of building a bypass around Lyndhurst, the Forest's worst traffic bottleneck.

Previous bypass schemes that entailed crossing forest land have been kicked into touch by the Verderers, who have the power of veto.

In the booklet, The New Forest Precious Wilderness or Suburban Park? due to be launched at Lyndhurst today, the Verderers say few modern uses have touched the forest to worse effect than roads.

"Road margins become linear litter tips, often exceeding to a depth of 100 yards or more where motorists are able to stop and park.

"Ponies and cattle are killed in large numbers by speeding motorists and visual intrusion and fumes add to the unpleasantness. Other public utility works (cables etc) are also damaging.

"The Verderers will support new works in these categories where they will actually contribute to improving the special qualities of the forest - such as sound screening for roads, putting cables underground or road works which result in a net reduction of land used and in traffic volumes."

And with no mention of communities there, that does not look good for future bypass plans.

However, Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre would not discuss whether the Verderers would veto any new scheme.

"Only if a bypass route is proposed and that bypass route involved crossing crown land would we become involved," he said.

"We have no idea what the recommendation will be. It will be up to the experts to come up with ideas to resolve Lyndhurst's problems. We're not experts on traffic or pollution, so we are not going to get drawn into that."

The Verderers' publication also sets down unequivocally that its chief objectives are maintaining commoning and securing high standards of animal welfare.

They also say campsites are a growing problem and would like to see them relocated off forest land. Some car parks are already "causing unacceptable damage and they should be relocated".

In addition, badly designed traffic signs are cluttering forest verges.

Mr Crosthwaite Eyre said the booklet was designed to spell out in simple terms what the latest policies are.

"At the moment it's aimed at the National Park Authority who are drawing up their own plans for the forest and we hope that when they read this they will be inspired by it."