HOPES AND FEARS GROW AS NATIONAL PARK DEADLINE APPROACHES

PLEAS to bring the boundary of the new South Downs National Park up to the northern edge of Chichester are being recommended for rejection by a Government inspector '“ with a final decision to be made in Whitehall.

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Jul 2007, 12:30 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:32 BST

Supporters of the proposal, including Chichester City Council, Summersdale Residents' Association and the Chichester Society, believe that 'wrapping' the park boundary around the city would help protect the vulnerable and narrow countryside gap between Chichester and Lavant. The fear is that this could eventually be swamped by new development, creating a single 'Lavchester' conurbation.

The proposed boundary extension would also have taken in the East Broyle Copse and part of the popular Brandy Hole Copse nature reserve.

Concerns have been exacerbated by the prospect of massive new gravel extraction in the area, which could involve a new roundabout and possible new road construction, adding to housing development pressures in the future.

For full story and more reactions, see West Sussex Gazette July 18