Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is joining forces with the South Downs Campaign (SDC) and urging people to have their say about the exclusion of the western Weald – including Petersfield, Liss, Midhurst and Petworth - from the proposed South Downs National Park.
Already within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the western Weald was excluded from the park’s proposed boundaries this July following the recommendation to remove it in the Inspector’s report from the public inquiry.
If Midhurst, Petworth and the surrounding countryside are left out of the South Downs National Park there is a real danger they will lose their current AONB status, leaving them vulnerable to large-scale development.
On Wednesday 19 September, SWT and the SDC are encouraging local people to come along and support the inclusion of the western Weald in the proposed plans for the National Park before the end of the public consultation period on 24 September.
Joining Dr Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive of the SWT, and Chris Todd, Campaign Officer for the SDC, is celebrated Sussex geographer and local author, Dr Peter Brandon, to discuss the close ties between the western Weald and the South Downs.
Also present is Rich Howorth, Manager of the West Weald Landscape Project (WWLP) – a partnership initiative based at SWT which promotes the integrated management of a viable and enhanced landscape for people and nature in this special area.
As well as responding to the current consultation by Defra (closing on 24 September) the public can also sign an online petition set up by the SDC on the Prime Minister’s website at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/western-weald which urges the Prime Minister to include the western Weald in the South Downs National Park.
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Note to editors
The South Downs Campaign (SDC) is a network of over 110 organisations which are working together to secure the establishment of a South Downs National Park. For more information visit www.southdownscampaign.org.uk
Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is the county’s leading conservation organisation. We use our knowledge and expertise to help people and organisations in Sussex to enjoy, understand and take action to conserve the environment and its wildlife. With more than 30,000 members SWT looks after over 3,500 acres on its nature reserves. We speak out – and are listened to – on the major conservation issues that impact on life in Sussex. For more information visit www.sussexwt.org.uk
