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Press Release

BILL BRYSON: DON’T REDUCE THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

Bill Bryson said:

‘I was shocked to see the Planning Inspector’s argument to exclude from the National Park a large tract of land known as the western Weald because it’s a different type of landscape from the nearby chalk downland. This countryside is some of England’s finest and one of the glories of the English landscape is its huge variety.’ [6]

He continued:

‘If this beautiful landscape is left out of the National Park, it will run the risk of being picked off by developers and lost forever. [7]

‘It has also been recommended that the historic market towns of Petersfield in Hampshire, Midhurst and Petworth and part of Arundel in Sussex, be excluded from the National Park. The same is true of unspoilt villages such as Ditchling. Where is the sense of excluding these settlements which have such strong historic and cultural links with the South Downs, and can contribute so strongly to the economic and community life of the new National Park.’

CPRE has made the case for a South Downs National Park since the 1920s [8] and this was recommended in the Hobhouse Report of 1947. [9] The Government’s advisers designated a boundary for the National Park in 2002 and this was discussed at a public inquiry which ended in 2005. The great majority of public responses supported the National Park and many asked for more land to be included.

Bill Bryson concluded:

‘What we want is for the Secretary of State to confirm the original wider boundary, including the whole of the western Weald, which was so carefully worked out by the Countryside Agency and designated some five years ago. [10] On my trip to the South Downs I will be meeting some of the amazing people who have campaigned for many years for a South Downs National Park. It is so important for the Government to get it right now and set up a National Park of which we can all be proud.’



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