Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

NATIONAL PARKS AND ACCESS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE ACT 1949

SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK (DESIGNATION) ORDER 2002

(AS VARIED BY THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION (VARIATION) ORDER 2004)

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs invites objections and representations on new issues relating to the South Downs National Park (Designation) Order 2002 (as varied by the South Downs National Park Designation (Variation) Order 2004). The issues are:

1. any implications of the amendments to National Parks legislation in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, made by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006;

2. any implications of the High Court and Court of Appeal Judgments in the challenge by Meyrick Estate Management Ltd relating to the New Forest National Park;

3. a possible alternative boundary line from Petersfield to Pulborough, produced by Natural England at Defra’s request, based on a recommendation in the South Downs Inquiry Report Volume 1, Part 2 (para 2.71);

4. possible additional areas of land recommended by the South Downs Inquiry Report Volume 1, Part 2 for inclusion within the boundary of the proposed National Park, so modifying the boundary specified in the South Downs National Park (Designation) Order 2002 (as varied by the South Downs National Park Designation (Variation) Order 2004). These proposed additions relate to approximately 25 sq kms of land situated in the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, and Brighton and Hove City and comprise land in the following districts: Districts of Arun, Adur, Chichester, East Hampshire, Horsham, Lewes, Mid Sussex, Wealdon, Winchester and Boroughs of Eastbourne and Worthing.

To help people understand the context of the two boundary issues, the Secretary of State is releasing, by way of background information, the report submitted by the Inspector to Defra following the public Inquiry.

Documents will be deposited for public inspection (free of charge) from 2 July to 13 August 2007, at each of the places mentioned below between the hours shown. Documents available for inspection will be:

(a) Natural England’s “Statement of impacts of the Meyrick case and the relevant provisions contained in the NERC Act 2006 on the South Downs National Park designation process”;

(b) maps showing the possible alternative boundary line from Petersfield to Pulborough as produced by Natural England, together with Defra’s letter inviting Natural England to provide this;

(c) the South Downs Inquiry Report Volumes 1-3 dated 31 March 2006;

(d) a schedule of the additional areas recommended for inclusion, with supporting maps.

In the light of any further objections/representations received, the Secretary of State will decide whether it is appropriate to re-open the public Inquiry.

Documents (together with a guidance note) can be inspected at the following offices and on Defra’s website (www.defra.gov.uk):-

Adur District Council

Planning and Policy Division

Civic Centre, Ham Road

Shoreham-by-Sea

West Sussex, BN43 6PR

Open 09.00 - 17.30 Monday to Thursday,

08.45 - 17.00 Friday

Arun District Council

Planning Department, Civic Centre

Maltravers Road, Littlehampton

West Sussex, BN17 5LF

Open 08.45 - 17.15 Monday to Thursday,

08.45 - 16.45 Friday

Brighton and Hove City Council

City Direct, Hove Town Hall

Norton Road

Hove, BN3 3BQ

Open 09.00 - 16.30 Monday to Friday.

Chichester District Council

Customer Service Centre

East Pallant House,

1 East Pallant

Chichester

West Sussex, PO19 1TY

Open 08.45 - 17.10 Monday to Thursday,

08.45 - 17.00 Friday

Eastbourne Borough Council

Planning Department

1 Grove Road

Eastbourne

East Sussex, BN21 4TW

Open 09.30 - 17.00 Wednesday,

09.00 - 17.00 other days

East Sussex County Council

County Hall

St Anne’s Crescent

Lewes

East Sussex, BN7 1UE

Open 08.00 – 17.00 Monday to Thursday,

08.00 – 16.30 Friday

Horsham District Council

Planning Department, Park North

North Street

Horsham

West Sussex, RH12 1RL

Open 08.45 - 17.20 Monday to Thursday,

08.45 - 16.20 Friday

Mid Sussex District Council

Environment Directorate

Oaklands

Oaklands Road

Haywards Heath

West Sussex, RH16 1SS

Open 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Thursday,

09.00 - 16.00 Friday

Wealdon District Council

Council Offices

Pine Grove

Crowborough

East Sussex, TN6 1DH

or at

Council Offices

Vicarage Lane

Hailsham

East Sussex, BN27 2AX

Both offices open 08.30 - 17.30

Monday to Friday

East Hampshire District Council

Planning Reception

Penns Place

Hampshire GU31 4EX

Open 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday

Hampshire County Council

Environment Department Library

Ashburton Court West

The Castle

Winchester

Hampshire, SO23 8UD

Open 08.30 - 13.00 & 14.00 - 16.30 Monday

to Friday

Lewes District Council

Planning and Environmental Services

Southover House,

Southover Road,

Lewes

East Sussex, BN7 1AB

Open 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Thursday,

09.00 - 16.30 Friday

West Sussex County Council

The County Secretary

County Hall

Chichester

West Sussex, PO19 1RQ

Open 08.15 - 17.00 Monday to Friday

Winchester City Council

Planning Department

City Offices

Colebrook Street

Winchester

Hampshire, SO23 9LJ

Open 08.00 - 17.30 Monday to Friday

Worthing Borough Council

Planning Policy

Portland House

Richmond Road

Worthing

West Sussex, BN11 1LF

Open 09.00 - 17.00 Monday to Thursdays,

09.00 - 16.00 Friday

Natural England

20th Floor, Portland House

Stag Place

London SW1E 5RS

By appointment. Contact Andrew Dumbleton

020 7932 5857

Objections and representations should relate only to any of the four issues listed above and state the grounds on which they are made. Those on boundary issues should relate only to the areas covered by the possible alternative boundary and/or the recommended additions, not to any other part of the boundary for, or area of, the proposed National Park. For the additional areas, objections and representations must be supported by evidence whether or not it is especially desirable to designate the areas for the purposes of a National Park. Any objection or representation must be sent in writing to:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Sponsorship, Landscape and Recreation Branch (National Parks)

Zone 1/03 Temple Quay House

2 The Square

Temple Quay

Bristol BS1 6EB

fax: 0117 372 8250

email: natparksouthdowns@defra.gsi.gov.uk

to be received by the 13th day of August 2007.

Forms on which to lodge objections and representations will be available at the offices and on Defra’s website.

Dated this 20th day of June 2007