Time To Make The Case For The Best Possible South Downs National Park

25 October 2007

Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] stressed their determination to press the case for a South Downs National Park with the widest possible boundary, as the Government announced its plans today (Thursday) [2] to re-open the public inquiry [3] into the future of the nation’s National Park in waiting. [4]

Emma Marrington, CPRE Rural Policy Campaigner said:

‘The heart of this campaign is to ensure the western Weald remains in the National Park. It is misguided to suggest, as the Planning Inspector did, that it should be excluded as it is a different landscape character type to the chalk downlands. There is no requirement in any legislation that a National Park should only be of one character type. We will argue tooth and nail for the Wealden landscape to be included through the re-opened inquiry.’

The recommendations made to Government could pose a threat to the protection [5] of almost a quarter of the original area [6] including the western Weald. We are pleased to hear that the Government agrees that further discussion is needed and hope that the terms of the inquiry will allow full debate about all the damaging proposals put forward to Government. The re-opened inquiry also brings the opportunity for the Planning Inspector to consider issues raised in over 2,000 responses which were made during a recent public consultation.

The original boundary is also strongly supported by Natural England [7] the Government’s own statutory advisor on landscape.

Emma Marrington continued:

‘There is huge public support for the wider South Downs National Park, a recent survey showed 95% [8] were in favour and a petition to keep the western Weald in the National Park has gained thousands of signatures. [9] Villages and towns such as Lewes, Ditchling and Arundel in Sussex and Petersfield and Liss in Hampshire are also leading local campaigns to fight for their inclusion in the future National Park.’ [10]

‘Where is the sense in excluding these settlements which have such strong historic and cultural links with the South Downs, and can contribute so strongly to the recreation opportunities, economic and community life of the new National Park?’

‘CPRE will continue to fight for the best possible South Downs National Park. We hope that the Government listens to the people and we look forward to making our case at the re-opened public inquiry,’ Emma concluded.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

2. Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Landscape and Rural Affairs has announced that he will re-open the South Downs Public Inquiry to consider certain new issues relating to the proposed South Downs National Park (Designation) Order 2002 (as varied by the South Downs National Park Designation (Variation) Order 2004). More details: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/issues/landscap/natparks/sdowns/index.htm

3. The South Downs National Park, alongside the New Forest National Park, was promised as ‘a gift to the nation’ by the Government in 1999. The Countryside Agency made a Designation Order for the South Downs National Park in 2002 and a public inquiry took place between 2003 and 2005. The designation process was put on hold in 2005 owing to a boundary challenge in the New Forest which could have had implications for the boundary of the South Downs National Park. The designation process restarted in July 2007 when a public consultation was launched on the Inspector’s recommendations. The Planning Inspector’s report was published at the start of the consultation.

4. CPRE has been campaigning for the South Downs National Park since 1929 when it submitted a list of areas deserving protection to the Government’s National Parks Committee. Due to the intense farming of the war years, the South Downs were not regarded as being appropriate for designation as a National Park in the 1950s when the majority of our other National Parks were created.

5. The land excluded from the National Park would have a very uncertain future. It would have to go through a process of de-designation as an AONB which would be highly unpopular. Alternatively, the Government could set up a new AONB, which would be another substantial process to protect the landscape without the benefit of encouraging public access or greater funding to handle visitor management.

6. The Planning Inspector who oversaw the 2003-5 public inquiry into the South Downs National Park has submitted his recommendations to the Government and recommends that the area of the Park should be reduced by approximately 23%, from 1,638 sq km to 1,267 sq km, excluding a large area in the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (designated in 1962) and the Sussex Downs AONB (designated in 1966).

7. Natural England issued a press release to publicly support the original designated South Downs National Park boundary: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/press/releases2007/190907.htm

8. The BBC Politics Show ran a survey during the period 27 February - 3 March 2007, 1,601 people voted and 95% were in favour. Further details can be found on the Politics Show website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/politics_show/6403369.stm

9. A petition to keep the western Weald in the South Downs National Park has gained thousands of signatures: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/western-weald/ Thousands have also signed a paper petition that is being circulated by the South Downs Campaign: www.southdownscampaign.org.uk

10. Villages and towns in the western Weald have been threatened with removal from the National Park due to their landscape setting. The Planning Inspector has also recommended drawing the boundary closer to the chalk downland which means that other towns and villages across Sussex and Hampshire may also face exclusion from the South Downs National Park.

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