THEY are the men and women who hold the future of the New Forest in their hands.

Together members of the New Forest National Park Authority are being asked to back a controversial plan that could have a major impact on the jewel in Hampshire’s crown.

It threatens to impose new restrictions on horse owners and dog walkers, and could even lead to road tolls on Forest roads.

Now the Daily Echo can reveal that two-thirds of those charged with the huge responsibility do not even live within the boundaries of the National Park.

Pauline Ludlow, chairman of the New Forest Dog Owners’ Group, called it a “surprising revelatio”.

She added: “That may explain some of the gaps in their knowledge. We are bound to worry about how that affects their ability to make the right decision.”

Fellow campaigner Vicky Bignell said: “It is like finding out that 65 per cent of the Members of Parliament live in France.”

The 20 members of the National Park Authority (there are two vacancies) will eventually be asked to rubber-stamp the plans, which have already caused uproar among many of the people who live and work there.

They have each been asked where they stand on blueprints for the National Park, which include proposals for dog-free car parks and tighter restrictions on keeping horses for recreational use.

Many have expressed reservations about items contained within the document, which runs to more than 100 pages.

The NPA says its far-reaching proposals, which relate to a huge range of issues affecting the ancient woodland and heath, are essential if they are to protect the area for future generations.

They are calling for reasoned debate and have already been backed by environmentalist and TV presenter Chris Packham.

But running the consultation, which ends on October 31, has been far from plain sailing.

The outgoing leader of New Forest District Council, Mel Kendal, has already expressed reservations about the proposals and the deputy chairman of the NPA, Barry Rickman, has publicly described it as "bureaucratic tosh".

Meanwhile up to 1,000 protesters staged a rally at Wilverley Plain near Brockenhurst, showing the depth of feeling among campaigners.

Members of Forest Uprising, the campaigning group set up to fight the plans, are plotting two more days of action next week.

Placard-waving protesters are set to make their voices heard at the Verderers’ Court in Lyndhurst at 10am on Wednesday.

A day later, they plan to demonstrate outside a meeting of the National Park Authority.

They are also planning to make a presentation to members.