IT has been more than 60 years in the making, but environmental groups across East Hampshire could finally celebrate last week as Secretary of State Hilary Benn confirmed the new South Downs National Park.

Mr Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, was in Ditchling, East Sussex, last Thursday, to sign the confirmation order that will officially create the new South Downs National Park on March 31, 2010, and finally define its boundary.

For full story, see this week's Liphook Herald.