Chris Huhne MP visits Longmoor and Woolmer

Margaret Patten shakes hand of Chris Huhn (about to sign petition); also Adam Carew and Robin Crane

Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Environment - Chris Huhne MP visited Whitehill and Liss today to meet South Downs campaigners and see for himself countryside at the centre of a national debate over its inclusion in the proposed South Downs National Park.

The visit was organised by Adam Carew, Parliamentary Candidate for East Hampshire and local councillor for Woolmer and Longmoor and hosted by senior members of the South Downs Campaign and CPRE including Margaret Paren of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Chris Todd South Downs Campaign Co-ordinator and Robin Crane, Chairman of the South Downs Campaign.

Chris Huhne MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and former MEP said:

"I am delighted to have been invited to Woolmer and Longmoor by Adam to see this beautiful area of internationally important heathland at the heart of the political debate.

I am longstanding supporter of the South Downs National Park. The park enjoys overwhelming public support, but the sudden exclusion of the Western Weald, where many people live, was entirely unexpected and has caused alarm within local communities.

I have written to the Minister, Jonathan Shaw, to express my disappointment at the inspectors sudden decision to down size the park even though a large part of the western weald is already recognised as a Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The park has been planned for decades and will have profound implications throughout the South - it is essential we get it right !"

Adam Carew, Parliamentary Candidate for East Hampshire and councillor for Whitehill, Walldown which includes Woolmer and Longmoor said:

"Chris's visit today is significant. We are throwing the party's full weight behind the South Downs Campaign for the National Park and inclusion of the Western Weald.

We are sending a resounding NO to most of the Government Inspector's latest boundary changes that will throw out the Western Weald which includes Petersfield, Liss, Greatham, Binstead and large sections of Whitehill Parish."

Margaret Paren, spokesperson for CPRE Hampshire and Vice-Chair of the South Downs Campaign said:

"We are very grateful to Chris Huhne for finding the time to come and visit the area and see for himself just what is at stake.

Like Brian Blessed and Bill Bryson before him, he is convinced of the beauty of the area and that it should form part of the national park.

The fact that more and more people are backing our Campaign shows just how strong the case is for keeping this area in the national park. We owe a big thank you to all the people who have written letters to Defra. However, we still need to let the Government know what we think and urge everyone to sign our online petition to the Prime Minister at: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/western-weald/"

- Ends -

CPRE/SD/23 Oct 2007

Joint press release with East Hampshire Liberal Democrats

Additional Notes

1. Significantly Natural England who were asked by DEFRA to draw up these new alternative boundaries for the SDNP have said they actually prefer the existing agreed boundaries to the Park.

2. The exclusion of Woolmer / Longmoor (in Whitehill Parish)

Under these new proposals Woolmer Forest SPA / SSSI (Longmoor ranges) which is in Whitehill Parish is no longer to be included in the proposed National Park.

The original (agreed) boundary came up to the Liphook Rd, Whitehill - this would enable the new Green Town of Whitehill and Bordon to market itself as a major gateway to the National Park - now this is in doubt.

Longmoor and Woolmer is the only place in the whole of the UK to support all 12 of the UKs breeding reptiles and amphibians, and supports rare birds such as the Nightjar, Woodlark and Dartford Warbler. It contains Woolmer Pond - the largest ephemeral lake in Western Europe which has been there since the last Ice Age. It contains Roman Roads, one of the highest concentrations of Bronze Age Burial Mounds in the UK and has turned up archaeological finds of national importance. It was also the site of a major Roman battle in 296 AD that determined the future of Britain and major Royal Hunting Forest in Mediaeval times. The historic lowland heath landscape here is unique and should be part of the National Park.

Unfortunately the inspector and his landscape assessor have paid no attention to this areas cultural heritage and historic interest. Nor has he examined the areas 'Recreational Potential' as defined in the 2006 NERC Act.

He has failed to register that there is a major long distance footpath The Woolmer Way going straight through it, and that the area is used by walkers when the red flag is not flying. Public access to Woolmer Forest occurs every day before 08.00 and after 16.00 unless there are special training needs. The Falklands campaign and the Bosnia emergency were the two occasions for special training needs in the past 20 years. There is unlimited public access for three days during the third weekend every month throughout the year. There is unlimited public access during a four to five week period in September. There is already unrestricted public access for 47 per cent of daylight hours throughout the year.

There are many national conservation bodies and scientific societies which visit Woolmer Forest and these include

1. British Dragonfly Society annual surveys
2. Butterfly Conservation surveys
3. British Herpetological Trust surveys
4. British Trust for Ornithology surveys
5. Botanical Society of the British Isles surveys
6. Amateur Entomological Society surveys
7. British Trust for Conservation Volunteers working parties.

He has also completely ignored the fact that there are similar size and type of military establishments in a number of national parks such as Okehampton in Dartmoor, Otterburn in Northumberland and Castle Martin in Pembrokeshire.

The inspector says that the Wealden Heaths here are beautiful enough in landscape terms to be included but has concerns about Longmoor camp. Although this is visible from the A3 it could be screened and is not that visible from other areas as it is in a dip.

Notes to editors

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.

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Becky French or Pam Mason, CPRE Hampshire
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