CAMPAIGNERS in East Hampshire have welcomed the Government's decision to reopen the public inquiry into the proposed boundaries of the South Downs National Park. They believe it gives them a vital opportunity to get Liphook, Liss, Petersfield, the A3 corridor and surrounding villages – in East Hampshire and West Sussex – reinstated back inside the boundaries of the proposed park. It came as a bombshell to campaigners earlier this summer when the national park inspector announced that he was excluding some towns and villages – among them Greatham, Liss, Rake, Rogate, Liphook, Milland, Fernhurst and the villages surrounding Midhurst. Also excluded at present is Woolmer Forest near Petersfield and the Longmoor Site of Special Scientific Interest at Liss. He said the landscape of the Petersfield and the western Weald area did not fit the criteria for inclusion. There was a storm of protest over the proposed exclusion and emergency meetings were held across the district. Protesters managed to have the consultation period extended to 12 weeks after complaining that the short six-week window took in the summer holidays when many people were away. Strong letters have gone out from pressure groups and the South Downs Campaign online petition has been flooded with signatures. And high profile figures including Brian Blessed, author Bill Bryson and television personality Ben Fogle have thrown their weight behind the camapign. But central to the protesters' hopes, was that the Government would reopen the public inquiry and allow them to put their case. Chairman of the East Hampshire group of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) John Venning, said he applauded the decision by the Minister for Landscape and Rural Affairs Jonathan Shaw, to reopen the inquiry. "This gives everyone the chance to take a close look, in public, at the evidence used to exclude the western Weald from the proposed national park. "We think much of the evidence is seriously flawed. We also think that in arguing that the national park should be confined to a single type of landscape (the chalk downland) the inspector has not taken the latest legislation into account. "We look forward to getting that sorted out at the inquiry," he said. The South Downs Campaign has also welcomed the announcement. But leaders said it was not clear whether the case for including the western Weald or any of the currently excluded towns and villages would be debated. The South Downs Campaign is planning a strong case to ensure that evidence on these excluded areas is heard at the inquiry. Chairman of the South Downs Campaign Robin Crane, said: "We very much welcome the announcement. "Although it doesn't resolve the concern over the future of the western Weald, it ends some of the uncertainty as to what happens next. Now we have a target to aim for and can start our preparations for the public inquiry in earnest. "We are disappointed that the announcement is rather vague as to exactly what we will be able to discuss. "However, we welcome Defra's (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) request that the inspector indicates if points raised during the recent public consultation have caused him to change any of his recommendations. "We therefore expect to be able to examine fully all the evidence used by the inspector in coming to his decision to exclude the western Weald. This will be essential if we are to have the opportunity to challenge his decision. "We now hope that a greater level of clarity about the inquiry will be revealed by the inspector at the pre-inquiry meeting in December." Rural policy campaigner for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Emma Marrington, said: "There is huge public support for the wider South Downs National Park, a recent survey showed 95 per cent were in favour and a petition to keep the western Weald in the national park has gained thousands of signatures. "Villages and towns like Petersfield and Liss are also leading campaigns to fight for their inclusion in the future national park." She said: "There was no sense in excluding these places that had such strong historic and cultural links with the South Downs, and could contribute so strongly to the recreation, and economic and community life of the national park." East Hampshire MP Michael Mates has applauded the decision but has expressed regret that the Secretary of State was unable to meet him to discuss the issue. "Although this is a good decision in the circumstances, the case for including the western Weald in the boundaries of the park still has to be made. I regret that the Secretary of State felt that – for legal reasons – he could not meet myself and other representatives of East Hampshire to discuss the issue. "Once the further inquiry is completed, I shall renew my request to the Environment Secretary for a meeting." A pre-inquiry meeting has been arranged for Tuesday, December 11, in Hove Town Hall and arrangements are being made for the inquiry to re- open on Tuesday, February 12, next year at the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing. Officials will write to everybody who made an objection or representation in that recent further consultation to find out if they want to appear at the inquiry. The planning inspector is Robert Neil Parry.