SOUTH DOWNS DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTATION
The South Downs Society has welcomed the production of the plan and congratulated the Joint Committee on its achievement in bringing forward this extensive piece of work.
However, the Society has also raised concerns about the lack of a practical Action Plan and perceived weaknesses in relation to education, cultural heritage, the impact of climate change and too little emphasis on the need to support local agriculture.
Without the backing of a practical Action Plan the Society feels that the Draft Plan is actually a strategy and more work will be needed if we are to see much needed improvements on the ground.
These should include a greater focus on how we engage local people in the management of the South Downs through effective education about its role, culture, history and landscape and recreational value.
There needs to be more emphasis too around the recognition and development of local contemporary culture which will be such a strong feature of people's personal response to, and enjoyment of, the proposed National Park.
The Draft Plan recognises the importance of encouraging sustainable development but the Society feels that it could and should do much more to promote public transport as a means of people accessing the area and helping to preserve its vital tranquillity. The plan also needs strengthening to encourage the development of appropriate sustainable energy production - a point now emphasised by the suggestion for the first major wind turbine on the Downs at Glyndebourne - which the Society opposes.
Lastly, the strong message from the Society that a sustainable and successful local agriculture is key to the future of the Downs does not yet appear to have been given sufficient weight or understanding, particularly in view of the changes to the Common Agricultural Policy and subsequent funding restrictions.
