CALLS for a £1 levy on all New Forest campers have been rejected by the Court of Verderers.

New Forest Commoners' Defence Association (CDA) spokesman Mike Cooper suggested the levy at the March meeting of the Verderers.

The idea was that visitors who come to the New Forest to see the animals should make a contribution to their owners, the commoners.

At the latest court, Official Verderer Oliver Crosthwaite Eyre said: "This is not a new idea, and not much has changed since it was first suggested.

"We discussed this with the deputy surveyor the Forestry Commission's top officer in the area in depth in committee last month, and our conclusion was that such a charge would not be possible for various legal reasons.

"We have written to the CDA and made some alternative suggestions, and we look forward to their further thoughts on the topic."

Forest Holidays, which now runs the 10 New Forest campsites, told the Daily Echo neither organisation was in favour of a tax on campers.

"The commoners commoning, through the Verderers, are already compensated each year for the interference on common grazing caused by the campsites," Forest Holidays said.

"This compensation is paid by the Forestry Commission, which is a part-owner of Forest Holidays, and the payment is in accordance with the New Forest Acts.

"The income the Forestry Commission receives from camping is very small indeed compared to its total expenditure in the New Forest and, as much of this expenditure is directed towards maintaining the open forest, it is of benefit to commoning.

"Neither Forest Holidays nor the Forestry Commission believes that a compulsory levy - effectively a tax' to further increase this compensation - is appropriate."