THE campaign to keep Longmoor and Woolmer Forest in the boundaries of the proposed South Downs National Park stepped up a gear at a protest in Hove. At a pre-enquiry meeting held in Hove on Tuesday, December 11, several dedicated campaigners gathered together to protest. Local county councillor, Adam Carew travelled on the South Downs Campaign 'Battle Bus' to Hove, together with Whitehill town councillor Chris Wain. He said: "We had an excellent turn out today and were briefly on BBC South Today. "People came from all over Hampshire, Sussex to protest and I think the inspector could be left in no doubt of local opinion. "I am again submitting evidence to this enquiry and asked the inspector whether he would consider new evidence on the Longmoor and Woolmer, which is in Whitehill Parish. His decision to exclude this area relies heavily on a landscape assessors report that is fundamentally flawed in that it made no reference to the historical and cultural heritage of the area and failed to take into account the recreational use and potential of the area." Damian Hinds, who also attended the pre-enquiry meeting said: "It was encouraging to hear the inspector say at the pre-enquiry meeting that he would accept evidence on the case for Petersfield, Liss and the A3 corridor, along with the rest of the Western Weald, to be in the National Park. "It offers real hope for the earlier decision to be reversed. And it reflects the dedication of the South Downs Campaign and all who have worked so hard to get this matter back on the table." North East Hants MP James Arbuthnot added an additional concern specific to the northern 'Selborne outlier' Hampshire Hangers. "Although outside the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this land was found by Natural England to be worthy of being in the national park. "I am not convinced by the case for it to be excluded now. It is in a particularly sensitive position, as it could not be linked with any new AONB formed of other areas deleted from the national park proposal. It is vital that the Secretary of State base his decision on the most up-to-date landscape evidence and legislation."
