A NEW transport strategy for the New Forest has been branded "a wish list" which can only be achieved it there is major government funding.

The strategy's aims include cutting car trips in the Forest by five per cent and bringing the number of visitors arriving by car down by ten per cent.

Reducing traffic congestion in Lyndhurst High Street, improving cycle routes and increasing cycle usage, cutting the number of human and animal casualties in Forest road accidents and providing better public transport are also on the list.

But at a meeting of New Forest District Council's Cabinet, economy and planning portfolio holder Jeremy Heron said: "This transport strategy can only be properly implemented if we have proper investment in public transport.

"While I recommend it to you, there are significant difficulties to fully implementing it. We do need central government's help to do so."

And after Cllr Maureen Holding described the strategy as "a wish list unless the government comes up with some money, council leader Mel Kendal said: "Government funding is the key.

"A wish list is one thing, but we've got to face the fact that we are living in the real world."

On the question of cycleways, Councillor Heron said: "There are two types of cycling in the Forest - there is transport and there is recreation. While recreation is important, when we address cycling as part of a strategy, we should address it as transport and not as recreation."

The transport was first produced in 1998 by Hampshire county and New Forest district councils and the New Forest Committee following consultation with various organisations including the Forestry Commission and parish councils.

Work carried out as a result of the original strategy has included cutting part of Lyndhurst High Street to a single lane and improving pedestrian safety, revised signing for the A35 to deter unnecessary through traffic and traffic management measures in Emery Down.