THE Champagne’s on ice until we see the promises in black and white – that’s the message from campaigners who were last night still rubbing their eyes in disbelief after a major U-turn over controversial plans for the New Forest.

National Park bosses scrapped dog-free car parks and road tolls while plans to curb horse keeping were also relaxed.

But despite claiming a victory, protesters say they will only truly be satisfied when they see the changes in a draft blueprint which goes under the microscope in October for themselves.

Sue Baillie from One Voice, a campaign group set up last year calling for a series of public meetings, said: “The bubbly is definitely on ice for the time being.

“It’s all well and good to tell us verbally but we have to wait until October 22 to see it in writing.

“There are going to have to be substantial changes to finally draw a line under all the controversy – whether that happens is now up to the National Park Authority.

“We campaigned for a public meeting for a year. At least they ticked a box in that respect.

“A lot of people have asked me where the sting in the tail is.

“It’s as if people are waiting for a punchline, but we’re all hoping that there isn’t one.”

Tina Cant, from campaign group Forest Uprising, has already said that she is “cautiously optimistic” about promises made by the authority.

As reported in the Daily Echo yesterday the policy U-turn, announced at Applemore Leisure Centre, followed a series of high profile rallies, a 7,000-name petition and even a specially composed protest song to the tune of Jerusalem. And it all came just months after the sensational resignation of the authority’s chief executive Lindsay Cornish.

However, the authority’s new interim chief executive denied the about-face was solely a matter of bowing to public pressure.

Barrie Foley told the Daily Echo: “The staff here were already making these changes when I arrived 10 weeks ago.

“I was pleased with the atmosphere at [Wednesday’s] meeting.

“We have got to keep our foot on the pedal now.

“It’s been a good start – let’s keep it that way.”

More stories about the National Park plans