Countryside campaigners are calling for the new South Downs National Park to include chalk downland to the west of Winchester.

Winchester Landscape Conservation Alliance has written to the Countryside Agency asking it to rethink its plans.

Campaigners say this chalk downland should be protected and preserved for its natural beauty and as a vital element in the landscape setting of Winchester.

At present, the park only embraces downland to the east of Winchester, including Magdalen Hill Down and Twyford Down.

But Hugh Woodrow, chairman of WLCA, said: "The South Downs Landscape does not stop at the M3 cutting through Twyford Down but continues westwards through further outstanding countryside."

The campaigners say Farley Mount, Crabwood, Pitt Down, Mount Down, Furzedown, Teg Down and Farley Down should lie within the park boundary.

Mr Woodrow said: "This area of downland has high public amenity value. It contains the Farley Mount Country Park and the Crabwood Nature Reserve.

"It has good vehicle parking, picnic areas, bridleways, footpaths and other marked ways all easily accessible to the public. "There are distant views to Beacon Hill in the north and the Isle of Wight in the south."

This area of chalk downland also straddles or overlooks the ancient Roman Road from Winchester to old Sarum and the site of a Roman settlement.

Despite its importance as a chalk downland habitat, this is the only significant piece of chalk downland in the south of England not designated a site of special scientific interest or an area of outstanding natural beauty.

To include the chalk downland in the park would recognise its high public amenity value and preserve its natural beauty, said Mr Woodrow. He said: "We welcome the proposal to bring the park boundary to the eastern urban fringe of Winchester to include the water meadows of the River Itchen.

"To extend the park westwards would complete the preservation of the unique landscape setting of the historic city of Winchester." Public consultation on the draft park boundary has now ended. There will be further consultation with local authorities before final proposals are submitted to the Government in autumn 2002.