National walking charity welcome south downs announcement
[25 October 2007]
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has welcomed
the announcement by Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Landscape and
Rural Affairs today (25 October 2007), to re-open the South
Downs Public Inquiry in February next year.
Outdoors organisations that make up the South Downs Campaign,
including the RA, CPRE, Council for National Parks and South
Downs Society, were disappointed when the Inspector's Report
from the first Public Inquiry recommended excluding a large part
of the Low Weald in Hampshire and West Sussex.
The RA, the national walking charity, is calling on the
government to put in place a swift and fair inquiry that will
consider the inclusion of the Western Weald and culminate in
national park status for the South Downs by autumn 2008.
Tom Franklin Chief Executive of the RA said: “The most densely
populated area of Britain deserves a national park that reflects
the diversity of the landscape in this area. We need to protect
this historic landscape so that this and future generations from
here and abroad can enjoy its beauty and tranquillity”.