Support for South Downs National Park

ENPAA has expressed its support to Government, for the establishment of the South Downs as a National Park.  The South Downs was named in the famous Hobhouse Report 1947 which investigated areas worthy of National Park status.  This identified twelve areas in England and Wales that should be designated – and all but the South Downs have since been established as National Parks.  In 1999, Ministers committed to designating the South Downs as a National Park, and a lengthy process of deliberation has followed.  This has included a public inquiry that was held between November 2003 – March 2005, and a public consultation following the publication of the Inspector’s report.

In our response to the Government’s consultation on the subject, ENPAA:

• expresses support for Natural England’s position which aims to ensure both the chalk downland, and the wooded valleys of the Western Weald are covered by the designation;
• indicates that it is not convinced of the merits of the case put forward by the Inspector for reducing the size of the National Park boundary; and
• highlights the importance of the Government providing sufficient additional resources in order to achieve the protection of the South Downs.

South Downs National Park - ENPAA Response