Press Release: Time Is Running Out to Petition the Prime Minister

Time is running out to petition the Prime Minister

As part of the South Downs Campaign, members of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (Hampshire) are reminding people that the window of opportunity to sign an online petition to keep the Western Weald within the planned South Downs National Park will close when the petition expires on Wednesday 9th July 2008.

The online petition to the Prime Minister has so far gained over 4,400 'signatures' and is now ranked second on the website in terms of environmental petitions, and 33rd out of the overall list of 6,000 petitions. It states:

"We, the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to include the Western Weald in the South Downs National Park."

John Venning, chairman of CPRE Hampshire, said:

"We would really like to have one last big push to get the number up as high as possible - if we could reach 5,000 before 9th July, that would be fantastic."

The website address is http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/western-weald/.

Bill Bryson, renowned author and president of the national CPRE, is supporting the case for retaining the original boundary for the park.

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CPRE/H/142

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.

The South Downs Campaign is a network of over 150 organisations. As well as many national conservation, environmental and amenity organisations who are members, the SDC has a growing number of members which are parish and town councils and now has over 100 local members - a full list of members is available on request. The SDC is generously supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

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