A BLUEPRINT for the New Forest which was drastically changed after sparking outrage among residents has finally been unveiled.

Controversial plans for the National Park, which included curbs on dog walking and the introduction of road tolls, caused mass opposition when they were released in draft form two years ago.

But the organisation that runs the ancient woodland and heath performed a dramatic u-turn and removed the unpopular items following a protest rally, angry public meetings and the handing over of a petition.

Now after a huge consultation exercise, the revised Recreation Management Strategy has been finalised by the National Park Authority (NPA) and made available for public viewing.

The authority’s interim director of conservation, recreation and sustainable development, Paula Freeland, said: “This strategy sets out how recreation might be managed so that it continues to make a positive and sustainable contribution to people’s lives and to the economy of the New Forest.

“At the same time it is vital to ensure the park’s special qualities are conserved and enhanced for future generations – so the really important thing for the National Park Authority and everyone involved in the management of recreation will be to carefully balance recreational act-ivity with the conservation of this very precious place.”

The way the 75-page plan is used will be overseen by a steering group, made up of representatives from user groups, landowners and statutory bodies and will be reviewed after five years.

Sue Baillie from One Voice, a campaign group set up to battle the rejected dog and road policies, said the document had been “put to bed”.

She added: “As far as I’m concerned, the NPA had working groups and consulted those who were vociferously against it, making them part of the decision making process.”