Urgent call for national park status for South Downs
[5 July 2007]
Walkers from all over the South East are expected to flock to
Harting Down in the South Downs on Sunday July 8th to mark the
60th anniversary of the Hobhouse Report, which recommended that
the South Downs be made a National Park.
The campaigning group – the South Downs Campaign – made up of
the Ramblers’ Association, the South Downs Society, the Council
for National Parks, CPRE, and over 100 other regional and local
organisations, want the government to grant the area the
protection it deserves.
The actor Brian Blessed, President of the Council for National
Parks, will be among those gathered to demonstrate their support
for protecting the South East’s ‘green lung’, enjoyed by
millions of people yet worrying still under threat from
development.
The National Parks Committee Report, spearheaded by Sir Arthur
Hobhouse in July 1947, advised that the South Downs be one of 12
National Parks in England and Wales. All of the areas
recommended by the report now have National Park status except
the South Downs.
The Department of Food and Rural Affairs announced that it would
restart the designation process with a 6 week consultation which
started on 2 July but campaigners are concerned that areas that
need National Park protection such as Petersfield, Liss,
Midhurst, Petworth and the precious countryside of the Western
Weald will be excluded.
Ruth Chambers, Deputy Chief Executive, The Council for National
Parks, said: “We are delighted that the inspector has
recommended that the South Downs should become England’s 10th
National Park. However, given his radical proposals to exclude a
large chunk of the Low Weald in Hampshire and West Sussex there
needs to be more time for consultation. Six weeks is not long
enough to digest and respond to this important consultation,
particularly when it falls in the middle of the holiday period.
Our immediate reaction to the possible alternative northern
boundary is that such a radical reduction would be a missed
opportunity to protect this beautiful countryside for future
generations. The logic of the inspector and his landscape
adviser is flawed on this point and should be challenged”.
Patrick Grady, Countryside Campaign Manager, said: “Walking in
the South Downs is a pleasure that should be open to everyone.
Making the South Downs a National Park will protect this
historic landscape so that generations of walkers from all over
Britain can enjoy its beauty and tranquility.”
Emma Marrington, CPRE Rural Policy Campaigner said: “It is
madness that 60 years after the South Downs were first earmarked
for National Park status they have still not been given this
recognition. The South East region is faced with ever growing
development pressure and a rising population. This makes it even
more important to safeguard the South Downs as an important
resource for the health and well-being of the nation.”
Jacquetta Fewster, Director of the South Downs Society, said:
“The most densely-populated region of the British Isles deserves
its own National Park and one which includes the beautiful
countryside of the Western Weald. With National Park status
comes a budget of up to £8 million from central government
funds. This money can’t come a minute too soon for the South
Downs. Precious wildlife habitats must be restored, and our
ancient network of footpaths and bridleways improved for
everyone to enjoy.”