A SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK - PUBLIC CONSULTATION

1. The Cabinet has commented in detail on behalf of the County Council on a consultation paper from the Countryside Agency on the proposal to designate the South Downs as a national park. Whilst designation would confirm the landscape importance already recognised through the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty designations, and emphasise the countryside recreation opportunities, the Cabinet has made the point to the Agency that in the absence of any guarantees about future resources for a proposed South Downs National Park Authority (NPA), there is no certainty about "adding value" to what is already being achieved, and could be achieved, by existing agencies. The County Council's submission is made against this background, therefore, and includes the following points:

· concern expressed at the lack of democratic accountability associated with national parks authorities;


· support for the Agency's preferred option of three joint structure plans (one per County) prepared by a South Downs NPA and the existing three structure plan authorities, likewise three joint minerals and waste plans; for a series of twelve joint local plans; and for all development control decisions to be made by existing local authorities;


· support for the Agency's view that a South Downs NPA should develop a vision and a set of land management policies working in close liaison with other statutory and voluntary organisations;


· general support for the development of a positive role for the NPA in visitor management, but on the detail, a rejection of the Agency's preferred option of local authorities delegating their powers and resources for rights of way to the NPA, the Cabinet being firmly of the view that legal responsibility for rights of ways should remain with County Councils, managed in partnership with the NPA.

2. The Countryside Agency has identified a draft boundary for the proposed National Park and this is shown in Appendix 1 to this report. Whilst in general the draft boundary is supported, there are a number of minor changes proposed, both exclusions from, and inclusions to, the National Park. Details of these are set out in the formal response, copies of which are available on request to the Chief Executive.

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