Cyclists are not taking the cancellation of the New Forest cycle hire scheme lying down – including some of the most prominent in the realm. The chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, Ian Austin MP (Dudley, Lab) and Julian Huppert MP (Cambridge, LibDem) have requested a meeting with the MPs for the New Forest.

The Daily Echo reports that Councillor David Harrison – one of just two National Park trustees to vote in favour of the scheme – is investigating whether Hampshire County Council could go ahead without the Park’s backing. He told the newspaper:

“Essentially what has happened is the National Park have made a unilateral decision to not to proceed. However, it has always been a joint project between Hampshire County Council and the park authority. I have looked at the consultant’s report and seen that at least 20 of the docking stations are outside the boundaries of the park authority.”

Meanwhile, cyclists wishing to express their unwillingness to visit the car-choked area can do so with a new survey launched by the New Forest National Park Authority. The survey, commissioned for a £4.5m Lottery project, includes questions such as “Is there anything that puts you off going to some places in the New Forest?” and “I don’t visit because…”.

Read more » (bournemouthecho.co.uk)