New Forest CDA presentments at Verderers Court – food vans in car parks and survey reminder

Andrew Parry-Norton, chair of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA), delivered two presentments at this month’s Verderers’ Court.

He raised concerns on behalf of the CDA over car park café licences and encouraged support for the recognition of commoning as living heritage in a survey.

Speaking to Verderers on Wednesday, March 18, he reiterated the Association’s opposition to the licensing of mobile food and drink vans in New Forest car parks.

He stressed that the CDA’s position remains unchanged, with concerns centred on the impact the vans can have on commoning and the wider Forest environment.

While licences are now due for renewal, the CDA highlighted a previous commitment by Forestry England to relocate suitable vans into enclosed areas, with remaining sites fenced to prevent access by free-roaming livestock.

However, the CDA noted this undertaking has not yet been fulfilled so as a result, has formally requested the Verderers withhold their consent for any licence renewals unless – and until – these agreed conditions are properly implemented.

In a second presentment, Andrew issued a reminder to New Forest Commoners to fill in a survey regarding the long-term safeguarding of commoning through cultural recognition.

The Association is urging Commoners to complete the Inventory of Living Heritage survey, which forms part of a wider effort to have commoning acknowledged under the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The survey has been sent out to Commoners by the Verderers and CDA, with the deadline to complete it coming at the end of the week.

Read both presentments through the link below.

New Forest CDA presentment March 2026