A BILL to enable the New Forest National Park Authority to be abolished has been launched by Christchurch MP Chris Chope.

If passed, the National Park Authorities bill would empower the Secretary of State to abolish the organisations quickly instead of having to go through parliament to get approval.

Mr Chope said he hoped the bill would make it easier to hold authorities to account and described the bill, which will not be heard again until next April, as a lobbying exercise and a way to keep pressure on the national park about “extravagant spending”.

The National Park has already been hit by a £2.5 million funding cut, losing £200,000 of its annual £4.2 million grant as well as having a £4 million grant for new offices halved.

The authority became dogged by controversy after it unveiled draft plans for the future of the area which included tighter restrictions on recreational horse keeping, stricter planning rules and a ban on dogs in some of the Forest’s car parks.

New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said: “He [Chope] won’t get his way. A bill needs time and this will not be granted that time.

“If he had tabled a bill proposing parliament has the power to abolish the national park rather than a minister then I would be more inclined to support it.

“I campaigned against the National Park Authority when it first started but I do rather think we are stuck with it now.

“The key will be to streamline them and make them more efficient and cheaper.”

Sue Baillie, spokesperson for campaign group One Voice said: “I believe the best outcome would be to have National Park status without an administrative authority.”

Julian Johnson, chair of the New Forest National Park Authority, said: “The coalition government has already put forward proposals to look at direct elections for national park authorities. We welcome the debate and will work with whatever direction is decided.

“National parks are the crown jewels of the nation. Any proposals looking at new legislation need to take absolute regard to protecting the working environment, communities and landscape.”