Della Keable could not hold back the tears as she explained how her family had lived in the forest for centuries, making a living among the trees, loving the tight-knit feel of the place. \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she said as the emotion got too much. \u201cBut the forest is part of our souls.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keable is among thousands of people protesting against the UK government\u2019s decision to split up the administration of the New Forest as part of local government reorganisation.<\/p>\n
A swathe of the eastern end of the forest, which is famed for its free-roaming ponies and pigs<\/a>, will become part of a new authority, South West Hampshire, which includes the city of Southampton. The other chunk of forest will come under a second new authority, Mid Hampshire.<\/p>\n Many of those living in the eastern portion are angry, feeling they are being \u201cannexed\u201d and hating the idea of city-focused politicians having a say over their rural lives.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m steaming,\u201d said Teresa Barnes, who was born here and who counts \u201cverderers\u201d<\/a>, officials who regulate the rights of the \u201ccommoners\u201d to graze animals in the woods, among her family. \u201cThis is a very precious, traditional kind of place. We don\u2019t want to be lumped in with an urban area. We have to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n Resident Teresa Barnes on Blackwell Common. Photograph: Peter Flude\/The Guardian<\/p>\n The government announced the changes<\/a>, due to come into effect in 2028, at the end of March. They are part of what the housing secretary, Steve Reed, called a \u201conce-in-a-generation chance\u201d to reform local government and make sure councils \u201cmatch the modern realities of our places\u201d.<\/p>\n A campaign group, New Forest Together<\/a>, was rapidly set up and within two weeks had delivered more than 20,000 leaflets, with more than 10,000 people signing a petition <\/a>opposing the changes.<\/p>\n The group argues the reorganisation would place large areas in a \u201ccity-centred\u201d authority and is calling on the current New Forest district council to take legal advice and prepare for a judicial review.<\/p>\n James Hartley-Binns, one of the campaign co-ordinators, claimed it was a \u201ctakeover\u201d by Labour-run Southampton city council. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is a land grab,\u201d he said in a passionate speech to people who had gathered to discuss the situation on Blackwell Common. \u201cWe have been a community for more than 1,000 years. The forest is part of our DNA but it\u2019s going to be fragmented. This is our home, our heritage and it is at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n The eastern section of forest in question borders Southampton Water and as well as lovely countryside and coastline, includes the Fawley petrochemical complex <\/a>\u2013 the UK\u2019s largest \u2013 and Marchwood military port,<\/a> which is being redeveloped to ease pressure on Southampton.<\/p>\n James Hartley-Binns, a co-ordinator of the New Forest Together campaign group. Photograph: Peter Flude\/The Guardian<\/p>\n This has led some to suspect the reorganisation, which was backed by Southampton city council, is all about money.<\/p>\n Tony Croucher, a former union branch secretary at the refinery, said: \u201cI reckon this is about Southampton seeing there is money to be made here. They\u2019re after the refinery and port money.\u201d<\/p>\n Croucher lived in Southampton as a boy and says he has no problems with the place. \u201cBut it\u2019s different to here. If they tried to merge Southampton and Portsmouth, there\u2019d be all-out war.\u201d<\/p>\n Dean and Jennifer White, who run a computer shop in the village of Blackfield, said they feared the new authority would put up their business rates. \u201cThey may not be as sympathetic to small forest businesses,\u201d said Dean White.<\/p>\n The debate comes at a time when the New Forest Commoners Defence Association <\/a>believes it is making progress in its wish for commoners to be recognised as a national minority<\/a> \u2013 like Cornish people.<\/p>\n Dean and Jennifer White, who run a computer shop, said they feared the new authority would put up business rates. Photograph: Peter Flude\/The Guardian<\/p>\n