GUARDIANS of the New Forest are backing a controversial new blueprint for the area – but objectors have vowed to fight on.

The Verderers have voiced support for plans produced by the National Park Authority (NPA), despite being urged to oppose new curbs on horse and dog owners.

One of the most controversial proposals involves the creation of “dog-free” car parks in environmentally sensitive parts of the Forest.

Dog owners say they will effectively be banned from large areas of the district if the proposals are approved.

But in a letter to the NPA, the Verderers say restrictions on the use of parking areas would help protect wildlife.

David Dickenson, of the New Forest Dog Owners’ Group, claimed that the Verderers had stopped short of formally endorsing dog-free zones.

However, he vowed that campaigners would continue to fight the plan, which he described as open-ended and potentially disastrous for dog owners.

Mr Dickenson added: “Similarly we will oppose any moves to allow the NPA carte blanche to close car parks or reduce their size without very good reason.”

The Verderers’ letter to the NPA also refers to new rules affecting hundreds of horse owners in the Forest.

If the far-reaching proposals are approved, people will need planning permission if they want to rug their horses in winter or supply them with hay.

Campaigners say people unable to comply with the new restrictions will have to sell their horses or have them put down.

The Verderers admit that the plan has caused widespread concern but add: “We agree with any policy that safeguards the existing stock of agricultural land available as back-up pasture and prevents further losses to other issues such as recreational horse keeping.”

Forest Uprising, formed to represent horse owners, said it had similar views but felt the NPA plan failed to propose valid and workable solutions.

The NPA’s blueprint also refers to “road user pricing”, which has sparked fears that tolls could be introduced on some routes.

The Verderers say: “Traffic associated with recreation only represents a minority of the traffic volumes passing through the National Park.

“Initiatives to reduce the volume and impact of traffic-linked recreation will only be of limited impact on the overall traffic levels.”

An NPA spokesman said: “We would like to thank the Verderers for their thoughtful response.”