Survey studies wildfire impact on forest community

The long-term impact of a wildfire on communities and businesses in the New Forest is being assessed in a council study.

The blaze, which started on 9 August after a van on the A31 caught fire and spread to vegetation on both sides of the road, affected more than 100 hectares of heathland.

The closure of the A31 for almost two weeks caused severe congestion as traffic was diverted through New Forest villages, and businesses and tourist attractions reported drops in income.

New Forest District Council said its community recovery consultation would help assess the "ongoing impacts" of the wildfire and help plan for future incidents.

With emergency services dealing with the fire, nearby car parks and footpaths were closed and traffic from the A31 - the main route between Southampton and Bournemouth - was diverted through the forest.

Businesses said there had been a noticeable fall in visitor numbers at what was the height of the summer tourist season.

After the fire was extinguished and the A31 reopened, the district council said the focus had moved to how to support the affected communities and businesses, as well as the landscape.

It said it also wanted to strengthen "community resilience and preparedness" for similar incidents in future.

The online survey is aimed at collecting views about the response to the fire from residents, community organisations, businesses, voluntary groups and parish councils.

"Feedback will help identify any remaining challenges and support needs, as well as capture valuable lessons for future community planning," the council said.

Questions include whether there are specific actions that local authorities should prioritise during the recovery period and any examples of good practice that could be replicated in future.

The survey remains open until 20 September.