WOOLMER ForestÕs national recreational importance must be expressed to the Countryside Agency in order for its inclusion in the proposed South Downs National Park.
This was the message given to Whitehill town councillors on Monday night.
For Woolmer Forest is currently excluded from the revised boundary of the national park, but deputy mayor Chris Wain said that the CA were very much on the Òborder edgeÓ.
ÒI went to the roadshow down at Penns Place and talked to the agency people there. They are very much on the border edge of deciding whether to include Woolmer Forest or not,Ó she said.
ÒWe need to express its national importance for recreation and the possibility of social use. The CPRE (council for the protection of rural England) have said very much the same sort of thing. Up until now we have not expressed the national importance.Ó
Woolmer Forest is currently not included in the national park because of its connection with Bordon Army but Mrs Wain told members that it is for recreational use at specified times.
ÒIt is open from four in the afternoon to eight in the morning every day for people to use,Ó she said.
Councillors agreed with Mrs WainÕs suggestion, and a recommendation will now go to full council at the end of the month that her reasons for the inclusion of Woolmer Forest be added to the councilÕs comments, to the Countryside Agency, on the revised boundary.