Press Release: Powerful advocacy for the National Park

Powerful advocacy for the National Park

It was 'closing statement day' at the Inquiry into the South Downs National Park in Worthing on Thursday 28 May. In a display of powerful advocacy, the Inspector was taken through detailed summaries of the reasons why the Wealden landscapes around Petersfield and Liss, with the Rother Valley, its market towns and heaths and commons should be part of the new South Downs National Park. Christopher Napier, national Vice Chairman of CPRE, speaking for the South Downs Campaign, told the Inspector that the law is quite clear: there is no reason why a national park in the South Downs should be confined to the chalk. Robert Griffiths QC, for Natural England, agreed, as had Peter Towler, the barrister representing Hampshire County Council, who had spoken at the previous session of the Inquiry.

CPRE member Margaret Paren, vice-chairman of the South Downs Campaign (SDC), who co-ordinated all and presented much of the evidence produced for the Inquiry by the Campaign's members, quoted eloquently from the evidence on the beauty and the "sense of enclosure, mystery and remoteness that characterises the hills" of the Western Weald. Referring to the testimony of Professor Robert Tregay and other witnesses, she reminded the Inspector that the Campaign had proved that Natural England was right to propose that these landscapes should be in the National Park. They are some of the most beautiful in England, they have a rich variety and they have not suffered from development and other damage in the way some had suggested. In fact, in some ways they have improved.

Robin Crane, Chairman of the South Downs Campaign, spoke with a conviction born of 20 years' campaigning for the South Downs National Park of the steadily increasing groundswell of support for the Campaign's position and the opposition to a 'Chalk Only' park; the nonsense of having a remnant of AONB, struggling to find resources alongside the new National Park; the gem-like quality of the heathlands, ancient woodlands, sandstone hills and the towns and villages that campaigners want to be in it.

"The outcome of the Inquiry will be momentous," he told the Inspector. "You are considering the long-term future of an extensive area of the finest landscapes in Britain. Your recommendations and the Secretary of State's decision will determine the future of this very special and much-loved countryside, not for five or ten years but as far as one can foresee into the future."

Robert Griffiths, in his summing up of Natural England's case, surgically dissected the evidence of the consultant employed by West Sussex and Chichester who had sought to prove that only the chalk downs had something she called 'national park quality', which has no basis in statute, but who admitted, under cross-examination, that her clients actually did not want a National Park in the Downs either.

CPRE's President, Bill Bryson, who has charmed millions with his perceptive, humorous observation of England and the English, most notably our countryside, has written to the Inspector to explain why the Western Weald should be part of the Park.

"As someone who has travelled the world, who has visited all parts of this island, frankly I cannot understand where such ideas came from. Believe me, this is a jewel; please conserve it, preserve it and confer on it the status it deserves, that of a nationally important landscape for all to enjoy as a National Park. If this beautiful landscape is left out of the South Downs National Park, I believe that it will run the risk of being picked off by developers and lost forever."

"I know that the South Downs Campaign, who hosted my visit last autumn, have been working extremely hard to show you why the Western Weald should remain in the National Park boundary. I really do hope that you will now be as convinced of the case as I am!"

The Inspector will now have to write and in due course deliver his report to the Secretary of State. A ministerial announcement is expected around the turn of the year.

The SDC will be sending copies of its closing statement (PDF file: opens in new window) to its members. It will also be available on the SDC and CPRE Hampshire websites.

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CPRE/H/137

Notes to editors

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Hampshire Branch (CPRE Hampshire) is a registered charity and a branch of the national CPRE charity.

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Becky French or Pam Mason, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123 Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com