National Park 'miracle'

Last week he praised Environmental Secretary Hilary Benn for his astuteness in decreeing that the new South Downs National Park would stretch across almost 635 square miles of superlative downland, as originally proposed, and not the comparatively meagre 489 square miles that developers and other interests wanted.

Coming on the heels of John Precott's famous views that the countryside was endangered by 'squires and gentry' who opposed the erection of giant turbines in pristine landscape because it spoilt their 'chocolate box views', plus the general need to fill land with houses and giant wind farms, he says the South Downs National Park is even more remarkable and every effort should be made to protect it.

Mr Bryson has consistently fought to stop fly-tipping and litter in the countryside and it was one of the key issues he raised in discussion with party leaders.

"Every week an estimated 50,000 people drive into the countryside and dump vanloads of waste, usually to avoid commercial charges, knowing that they will never be caught.

"You stand more chance of being struck by lightning than of being caught fly-tipping, and even less chance of being fined and punished for littering," he said.

He also warns that 90 per cent of the litter dumped or dropped on the British landscape is never cleared up and continues to be an ongoing blight - something that needs looking at in the new South Downs National Park.

He said in The Times recently that during discussions with party leaders, he had been heartened that both opposition leaders spoke about litter and fly-tipping with clear loathing and professed that something must be done.

He said that Gordon Brown had revealed that consideration was being given to confiscating vehicles where fly-tipping is identified.

David Cameron had been equally emphatic that measures should be implemented, saying the quantity of litter beside roads and in hedgerows made him ashamed. He felt people dropping litter and fly-tipping in the countryside should be prosecuted. Dropping litter had to be made as anti-social as drink-driving.

He told Mr Bryson that countries doing best at preventing fly-tipping and litter should be looked at and how they achieved it.

Mr Bryson said Nick Clegg stood out on his own amongst the trio of leaders when it came to talking about the countryside.

He had a clearly articulated belief that farmers should be paid to look after the countryside, something all parties support, but which he seems to be particularly passionate about, advocating increasing agriculutral subsidy for maintenance of the countryside, including hedgerows and dry stone walls.

Mr Bryson added: "While the three leaders have a collection of countryside policies that are odds and ends, the Campaign to Protect Rural England has a vision."

He said West Sussex should ensure all election candidates are made aware of it, by telling them to look at the website: www.cpre.org.uk

National Park '˜miracle'

Call to protect park area by strong enforcement on fly-tipping and litter