A STORM is brewing over plans to axe hundreds of camping pitches in the New Forest in a bid to protect the environment.

Tourism bosses have rapped proposals to scrap hundreds of pitches at Hollands Wood, near Brockenhurst, and reduce the site by a third.

The move would cut the number of pitches in the Forest from 3,400 to 2,800.

Christine Ames, chairman of the New Forest business Partnership and former chairman of the New Forest Tourism Association, said it could create a shortage of facilities and damage the local economy.

She said: "Every tourist business understands the need to protect and preserve the New Forest.

"But the Forestry Commission isn't proposing to increase the number of pitches at other sites to make up for the shortfall at Hollands Wood.

"The reduction would have a detrimental effect on the business community and that's something we would obviously be concerned about."

Mrs Ames said the impact would be felt at attractions such as Longdown Activity Farm and Paulton's Park, plus pubs across the district.

Nina Ball, chairman of Brockenhurst Parish Council, expressed similar fears.

"Any reduction in the number of pitches is bound to have some form of economic impact on the village and 50 per cent is quite a large amount. It's something we need to have a look at," said Mrs Ball.

Tony Climpson, the district council's tourism officer, said: "We would welcome anything that reduces campsite impact in the centre of the Forest. However, we would hope that the Forestry Commission would look at the whole of the Forest rather than just tamper with bits and pieces."

Two years ago the commission published plans to close Hollands Wood and build a new campsite at nearby New Park.

The proposals were scrapped amid claims it would endanger the future of the New Forest Show, which is held at New Park every July.

If the current plans are approved, Hollands Wood will survive, but will be cut from 22 hectares to 15.

The commission is also planning to shut part of the nearby Roundhills campsite. None of the 600 pitches will close, but the size of the facility will be reduced from 38 hectares to 31.

Deputy Surveyor Mike Seddon said the proposals would curb the impact of camping on some of the Forest's most important wildlife habitats.

He added: "We must do all we can to safeguard the natural heritage that draws campers and caravanners to the area. But we also need to support the holiday trade that brings

valuable income to the local economy."

Mr Seddon said the scheme would make more use of the surviving pitches and thus avoid a shortage of camping facilities in the Forest.

He forecast that Roundhill would see a 45 per cent increase in occupancy as a result of the proposals, which included improved facilities.