HUHNE BACKS BIG SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 27th Jul 2007

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne has criticised the inspector's proposal to downsize the South Downs National Park by excluding a large tract of the Western weald and backed a "big National Park on the downs".

Mr Huhne is a long-standing supporter of the National Park proposal, which he says will bring great benefits for thousands of local people across South Hampshire by protecting and enhancing some of England's finest landscapes.

Mr Huhne has written to the minister responsible, Mr Jonathan Shaw, to express his disappointment at the recommendation by a government inspector to exclude the Western Weald including a large area around Petersfield.

Mr Huhne wrote: "The South Downs National Park has enjoyed overwhelming public support, but that support is founded on the basis that the landscapes found in the two existing 'Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty' will be wholly contained within the new national park.

"The suggested exclusion of the Western Weald, where many people live, was entirely unexpected and has caused very considerable consternation within local communities."

Despite the major changes to the proposed size and character of the national park, the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) have also reduced the length of the public consultation to just 6 weeks.

Mr Huhne said that this consultation period was simply not long enough, especially as it falls over the summer holidays, and goes against government guidelines which say public consultations should last at least12 weeks.

Mr Huhne said: "This so-called consultation looks more like a gerrymander as it makes a mockery of the government's promise to listen to local people over local issues. The six week consultation is not long enough for people to respond, particularly as it falls during the holidays. The government should extend this consultation in both timing and scope, so that local people can be fully involved in this important process."