The South Downs Campaign has welcomed the South Downs National Park Designation Order which was placed on deposit this week.

It marks the start of a public consultation which lasts until February 28th. The SDC is now urging people to register support when they make any comments on the boundary.

The SDC believe that this is important so that comments on the boundary cannot be misinterpreted as opposition to the National Park.

"This is especially important as there is overwhelming public support for a national park to be established," said Robert Crane, chairman of the campaign.

"The SDC believes that improvements to the boundary are needed in a number of areas. However, it is pleased that many places it has argued should be within the proposed park have been included by the Countryside Agency in their proposals.

"It has taken a long time to get to this stage and there is still a fair way to go until we get a National Park. Nevertheless, it is important that people support the proposals, even if they have done so before. This is people's last chance to have their say.

"We are most concerned that the overwhelming support is not obscured by a vociferous minority of opponents. People must not be complacent, for this will not happen automatically.

"In addition, it is important they do not assume that their area will be within the National Park just because it is contained within the proposed boundary now.

"Some people are bound to argue for areas to be excluded and emphatic support for their inclusion needs to be shown."