NEW Forest Verderers have refused Forest Holidays’ plans for a mobile shop to visit three busy campsites in the holiday season.

The decision was made in committee after 11 opponents made presentments to the court.

Just two people spoke for the proposal – farmer John Boyd and Jason Gregg of New Forest Spring Water. Both own New Forest Marque businesses, whose products would have been sold from the mobile grocery shop planned for Hollands Wood, Roundhill and Ashurst campsites.

Opponents included Brockenhurst Parish Council. Its chairman, Cllr Thorold Masefield, said there were two principle elements.

“First, we firmly hold to the view that the New Forest campsites should be modest in appearance – not brash or raucous – and appropriate in their context in the heart of the forest itself,” he said.

Commercialisation in the SSSI sites “would run counter to the very purpose of camping in a forest environment”.

Secondly, the council says commerialisation would have “a seriously detrimental effect on the economic and social wellbeing of local communities in the park”.

“There is no doubt that the advent of a mobile shop in Hollands Wood and Roundhill would damage businesses in Brockenhurst. It might even destroy some altogether.”

Additionally, Forest Marque produce “can equally well be promoted and supported through the village shops; indeed, it is already”.

Veteran commoner Col Peter Sweet said: “As far as the residents of Brockenhurst are concerned, this scheme will have a huge effect on the viability of the remaining shops in the village.”

Cllr Jo Russell of Denny Lodge Parish Council said some shop-keepers estimate 50 per cent of their trade comes from summer visitors. More car journeys will be made by forest people to do their shopping if retail premises close, she predicted.

And Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council chairman Cllr Sally Arnold claimed it would be the “death knell” for the Ashurst shops.

“How long will it be before we see planning applications for permanent shops on these sites?” she asked.

Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre said: “This has not been an easy decision to make because we do sympathise with the Forestry Commission’s wish to make these campsites viable, but our policy is very clear on these sorts of matters and we sadly cannot support further urbanisation of the open forest.”