CAMPAIGNERS for the inclusion of the western Weald in the South Downs National Park have welcomed the decision made by the inquiry inspector to allow written representations on the areas previously excluded. With the new year set to bring the re-opening of the inquiry on February 12, it was just the news they had wanted to hear. Chris Todd, campaign officer for the South Downs Campaign, said: "We welcome the inspector's decision to receive written evidence on areas which he has proposed should be deleted from the national park. This is important as it means that those arguing that their community such as Ditchling or Lewes should be included will now be able to make their case. "However, we are disappointed that he has not yet agreed to hold an inquiry session on the exclusion of the western Weald. In view of the major issues surrounding his proposal, and in the light of new evidence which will be submitted, we firmly believe that a full inquiry session is needed on this. "There is a danger that by giving full speaking rights to some and not others, he will create an uneven playing field. If this happens people could lose confidence in the inquiry process and recommendations arising from it." A protest was staged by a 150-strong crowd from all over the affected areas outside the gates of Hove Town Hall in East Sussex when the pre-inquiry meeting was held in December. Recognising that the western Weald raised important issues, inspector Robert Parry said at the meeting that on the first day of the inquiry he would review whether he will allow spoken, as well as written, representations on its exclusion. However, the South Downs Campaign is concerned that waiting to make this decision could cause problems for the running of the inquiry and for those wanting to present evidence. Equally, there is a still a danger that he might refuse to allow people to speak. Inside the meeting, Hampshire County Council, Natural England, the South Downs Campaign and many others urged the inspector to hear representations on the western Weald. In sharp contrast, West Sussex County Council maintained its isolationist stance and was the lone voice against further debate on this topic. A parish councillor from Woolbeding in West Sussex stood up and informed the inspector that West Sussex County Council and Chichester District Council were not representing the wider population's views. The South Downs Campaign will now be writing to the inspector to set out why he must consider new evidence on the western Weald in a formal inquiry session and not just receive written representations. If he is allowing objectors to his proposal to add areas to the national park full speaking rights, as he said that they had been denied involvement in the public inquiry previously, then the principles of natural justice dictate that he do the same for objectors to his proposal to exclude the western Weald. Hampshire ramblers were also among the throng from Hampshire traveled to Hove on Tuesday to attend the pre-inquiry meeting for the South Downs National Park. Before this meeting, they joined members of the South Downs Campaign and approximately 150 members of the public outside the Hove Town Hall to protest at the suggestion that the western Weald should be excluded from the national park. Since the government announced the re-opening of the inquiry there has been great concern that it might not be possible to address the issue of the suggested exclusion of the western Weald. This came out strongly in the question session that followed the inspector's presentation. Almost without exception,the questions and discussion that followed focused on the western Weald. It was pointed out that if the western Weald was excluded, then it would likely lose its status as an Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB) and the protection that gives. Owen Plunkett, from the Ramblers' Association in Hampshire, said: "The Ramblers Association have long campaigned for the creation of a South Downs National Park. "They welcomed the inspectors recommendation that the park should be created, but were bitterly disappointed at the suggestion that the western Weald, which had previously been identified by the Countryside Agency and its predecessor, Natural England as meeting the criteria for national park status."
