Arundel left out of national park

Robert Parry, who conducted the 17-month hearing on the park proposal, said Arundel, and other "sizeable developments" including Steyning and Lewes, parts of which were within the original, 2002 blueprint, did not meet the criteria for a "natural beauty" test.

In his inquiry report, Mr Parry states: "Many are likely to be disappointed if Arundel is excluded from the proposed South Downs National Park, given that it is an important historic settlement containing many very fine buildings and is situated on the edge of the chalk."

However, he adds, the town is not surrounded by landscapes of sufficiently high quality to merit its inclusion within the boundary.

Large numbers of houses, as well as commercial and public buildings, ruled out places such as Arundel, Petersfield and Lewes, he says.

Arundel Castle, pictured, and its grounds have been included by the inspector in the proposed park boundary, as they are in the existing South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It had been hoped that Arundel would become the "gateway" town for the park.

Mr Parry's report leaves out land south of Arundel which conservation groups had wanted to see included in a national park. Again, Mr Parry says the land is not of a sufficiently high quality to merit the extra protection, and he notes that this area is on the line of the preferred pink-blue route for the Arundel bypass. He expects a decision to be taken on the road's future before final confirmation by the government of the national park.

West Sussex County Council and Arun District Council, both fierce opponents of the national park, argued strongly at the inquiry against the boundary going south of the A27, but in two places, Mr Parry has included extra land, against their wishes.

These are at Tortington Common, described by him as "generally of high landscape quality", and fields and woodland around Binsted Woods.

Highdown Hill, "a high quality landscape and an important recreational resource", should also stay inside the boundary, in spite of objections from Arun and West Sussex, the inspector recommends.

Following publication last week of Mr Parry's report, which supports the case for a national park to be created, councils, other organisations and the public have until August 13 to make their comments, before his recommendations go to the relevant government minister for lengthy consideration.