§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received following the announcement of his intention to turn the South Downs into a national park. [96934]
§ Mr. MullinSince my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 29 September that he was asking the Countryside Agency to consider designation of the South Downs as a National Park, Ministers have received a small number of written representations. Those from members of the public have generally been supportive of a National Park. On 12 October I met a delegation of MPs and local authority representatives from East and West Sussex and Hampshire. I took the opportunity to reassure them that the Countryside Agency and the Government would listen to local interests and take into account all the special factors in the South Downsin considering possible models for a National Park.