By Maya George

Southern Daily Echo – 1 April 2026

Thousands of New Forest residents are fighting against plans to carve up the district under major local government reforms. Campaigners warn the shake-up will fracture communities and strip residents of their identity. A petition launched by lifelong New Forest resident James Hartley-Binns and his wife Emily has already amassed more than 4,000 signatures in three days, with James saying that pairing Southampton and the Waterside is like pairing “chalk and cheese”.

From April 2028, those living in the Waterside area of the district will come under the new South West Hampshire council, alongside Southampton and Eastleigh. The changes have come under fire by politicians and residents of the New Forest alike.

Conservative MP for New Forest East, Julian Lewis, said:

“This is a shameful and partisan attempt to override the historic cultural link between the Forest and the Waterside at the behest of Labour-dominated Southampton City Council.

“It ignores the Government’s own presumption against interfering with boundaries for blatant party-political advantage.”

James and Emily, who live in Dibden Purlieu, created the petition days after the council merger was announced on March 25. James, 35, said:

“We do not see ourselves as part of Southampton. New Forest is where our heart is.”

He said the aim of the petition is to encourage New Forest District Council (NFDC) to seek legal advice from a barrister on the decision, rather than jumping straight into a judicial review.

“It seems that the Government has broken its own local government reorganisation (LGR) criteria by splitting the district”,

James said.

“The outcome of the advice from legal counsel would give NFDC options, and that is the moral thing to do. We want to take some reasonable steps to get the government to make a change. We are heartbroken over this; this is our home. It is not just about boundaries.”

James also feels the Waterside area will be more neglected when the merger happens, and he anticipates the area will have fewer councillors and representation. Merging with Southampton City Council and Eastleigh Borough Council is a worrying thought for many living in the Waterside.

Elaine Chivers said she is concerned about the rights of Commoners. The 77-year-old has lived in Marchwood for more than 40 years, which has been under the control of NFDC. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said:

“All of us in the Waterside area wanted to stay in the New Forest because that is where the natural allegiance is. My husband was a Commoner, and he would be turning in his grave at this. Living in the New Forest is a different way of life. I can cross the road, walk ten minutes, and I am in the Forest. We have been totally and utterly ignored. What was the point of this farce?”

Five new councils will be created across the county, merging existing local authorities. Eastleigh, Southampton, the Waterside area of the New Forest and southern parts of Test Valley will form one council. The remaining area of the New Forest will be paired with the rest of Test Valley and East Hampshire areas, while Fareham will join Gosport, Portsmouth, Havant and southern parts of East Hampshire.

Chair of the New Forest Commoners’ Defence Association (CDA), Andrew Parry-Norton said the government’s chosen option is the “worst outcome”. He said:

“The CDA has pushed for the Forest to stay as one, with our preferred outcome to stay as we are and join Test Valley. The issue we have is that Southampton is an urban council, and it is very large. Now, Commoners who live in the Waterside area of the New Forest are going to be a small minority.

“Back-up grazing, which is very important, may not have the same consideration as it would have done, and we have commoners who have holdings in the Waterside. It feels like the Forest has been absolutely split. It is a very unique and special place that requires special and unique consideration.”

Visit www.change.org/p/keep-the-new-forest-together-stop-the-government-s-lgr-carve-up to find out more about the petition.