VILLAGES surrounding Bordon have failed to argue their cases to be included in the proposed South Downs National Park.

Greatham has suffered the most and, despite being previously split by the park proposals, it will now be left outside the park boundary all together.

Blackmoor and Oakhanger remain divided and Kingsley and LiphookÕs pleas to be included within the boundary have fallen on deaf ears - as have the calls to include the Woolmer Forest.

Yesterday (Thursday) the Countryside Agency's (CA) board was due to consider a report containing the final draft proposals for the South Downs National Park.

The report, expected to be accepted by the board, considered all the 6,500 responses on the plans since the draft boundary was published in November. Many villages found themselves left out in the cold or divided by the plans.

Bordon and Whitehill will find itself right on the edge of the park with part of the boundary running alongside the A325 through Blackmoor.

Fresh attempts to include the town within the boundary have failed because the local landscape does not meet the criteria.

But it will be villagers who will feel they have a raw deal.

Previously, much of the western and southern ends of Greatham were within the boundary but many of those on the eastern side of Petersfield Road and in the north of the village were left out.

The village and parish council mobilised and fought to prevent the village being split but their efforts have backfired.

ÒNot all the village is regarded as meeting the criteria for inclusion as development in places is ordinary,Ó the report to the CA board said.

ÒAlthough the village contains an attractive church and buildings to the south, these were not considered sufficient to warrant full inclusion of the village and the settlement should not be split.Ó

There was more bad news for villages contained within the board papers.

Despite local efforts, Blackmoor remains carved up with some areas in the centre of the village being included while other areas around it, including the apple farm, are outside the boundary.

Moves to include Oakhanger within the park alongside Shortheath Common have also failed because Òthe village is not surrounded by high-quality countryside and does not have an exceptional historic coreÓ.

Kingsley, Kingsley Common, Passfield Common, Liphook and Conford National Trust Estate also remain outside of the boundary despite local campaigns.

Alice Holt Forest has also been left outside the boundary because the CA is reluctant to split the forest along the Hampshire/Surrey boundary Òto avoid splitting the management of the forestÓ.

However, one of the biggest blows is the failure to include Woolmer Forest within the boundary, despite widespread support, because it is used by the Army for training and is not available for public recreation.

The report said: ÒThe outstanding nature conservation interest and landscape quality of Woolmer are acknowledged.

ÒIf Woolmer were more accessible it could offer a superior recreational experience, especially to allow people to enjoy its wildlife.

ÒHowever, a very large part of the forest is closed to the public for a very large proportion of the time.

ÒThere is no indication that access will be increased. Indeed the MoD has informed the agency that the military use and restrictions will continue in the future.Ó

However, according to the report, there is a chance that the Woolmer Forest could be included within the park at a later date.

It said that the CAÕs position Òshould be reviewed should the MoD, via Defence Estates, indicate any change of use/ access policy, and the agency will continue to liaiseÓ.

More good news has also come after CA officers decided that the whole of Wheatsheaf Common, which was split by the previous boundary, should be in the national park.

p Statutory consultation on the boundaries with local councils will begin at the end of May and will run for 12 weeks, ending on August 16.

The results will be considered by the board in the autumn when officersÕ final recommendations will be published.