VILLAGES on Romsey's doorstep are included in the draft proposals defining the boundaries of the New Forest National Park.

Countryside Agency bosses have put Landford, Plaitford, West Wellow, Ower, Hillstreet, Copythorne and Netley Marsh in the new park. The southern area of Whiteparish also falls within the proposals.

The agency says it will listen to what the public has to say in response to the plans during a three-month public consultation.

Dr Victoria Edwards, from the agency, said: "We have drawn up this draft boundary following a very robust appraisal of the statutory criteria. "I want to make it quite clear that the Countryside Agency has not reached a final decision. We want to hear from anyone, no matter where they live, who has a view on the draft boundary.

Most of the proposed national park is based on the existing New Forest Heritage Area. It also includes parts of Dorset, south-east Wiltshire and other areas of south-west Hampshire.

Areas of land to the north of Totton, extending to Testwood Lakes, have been earmarked for national park status by the agency.

New Forest District Council has welcomed the public consultation process.

Test Valley Borough Council was opposed to New Forest District Council's plans to include land between the M27 and Totton in the New Forest Heritage Area when they were announced a couple of years ago.

Now the Countryside Agency has done more or less the same thing under a different name.

Borough planner, David Bibby, said the borough council would be looking at the proposals shortly.

"We did make objections to the district council's plans but national parks have a different criteria," he added.