It has been more than 60 years in the making but today sees the South Downs finally becoming England’s 9th and the United Kingdom’s 14th National Park [1].
After Hilary Benn’s announcement in March earlier this year that he had agreed in principle to the National Park [2], campaigners have been waiting eagerly for the final boundary disputes to be resolved. These led to a one-day public inquiry in August with the Inspector submitting his report to Government in the same month. Until these issues had been sorted out, the legal order, formally creating the National Park could not be signed [3].
The South Downs Campaign (SDC), a network of around 160 organisations including the Ramblers, [4] is celebrating the removal of this last hurdle in the long and difficult history of the South Downs. It now wants to see swift action to ensure that the new National Park Authority is given all the help that it needs to make it a success [5].
Robin Crane, Chair of the SDC, commented:
“Today is a fantastic and historic day: the final milestone on the long path to a South Downs National Park. The South Downs will now have the protection and recognition that this landscape so richly deserves.
“We are pleased that our evidence on Green Ridge has convinced the Inspector and the Government that its exclusion was a mistake and that this has now been rectified. We also welcome the inclusion of Alice Holt Forest, which will bring new opportunities to that part of Hampshire.
“Overall we are delighted and look forward to working with our partners to ensure that the new National Park Authority will be a great success.”
Tom Franklin, CEO of the Ramblers, comments:
""The government should be congratulated for providing such a great gift to the nation. National Parks are a huge walking asset, offering myriad walking opportunities. The South Downs is on the doorstep of millions of people and this decision will safeguard it for future generations.
"What the Ramblers wants to see next is the speedy creation of a strong national park authority, with planning powers, to ensure that national park purposes are considered in the context of development threats to nature conservation and public access”.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Broads is considered as one of the National Park family and although not strictly a National Park, if it is counted in the numbers, the South Downs would be England’s 10th and the UK’s 15th National Park.
2. The announcement was made by the Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with his Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP on 31 March, 2009.
3. While the Confirmation Order has now been signed, the National Park won’t formally be created until 1 April 2010. On the same date the current Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) designations in East Hampshire and the Sussex Downs will be revoked. The reason for this delay is to allow the South Downs Joint Committee (whose existence is reliant on the AONB designations) to continue to function while the South Downs National Park Authority is established. It is likely that the shadow Park Authority will be established on 1 April 2010, but the legal order to enable this to happen is yet to be laid before Parliament. This is expected to happen shortly.
4. Founded in 1990, the membership of the South Downs Campaign has grown to around 160 organisations and includes most of the key national and regional conservation, environmental and amenity organisations concerned with the countryside. It includes over 90 local groups, societies and businesses and 29 parish and town councils.
5. The SDC is generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
6. For more information on the SDC visit our website: www.southdownscampaign.org.uk
7. The SDC is keen for the Establishment Order to be laid before Parliament as soon as possible so that there is no delay in establishing the Park Authority.
