AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY

COUNTRYSIDE AND RIGHTS OF WAY ACT 2000 DRAFT SUSSEX DOWNS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (REVOCATION) ORDER

Notice is hereby given that under its powers contained in sections 82 and 83(7) of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the Countryside Agency intend to make an Order revoking the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Designation) Order 1966.
The Order would revoke the designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of an area of approximately 983 square kilometres in the Counties of West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove City. The area was designated by the National Parks Commission by Order dated 7 April 1966. Approximately 975 square kilometres of the AONB would fall within the proposed South Downs National Park, if designated, and it is not appropriate that both designations should apply. Thus, revoking the AONB Order is a procedural necessity as respects this area of the AONB, should a South Downs National Park Designation Order be made and confirmed.
The remaining approximately 8 square kilometres of the AONB is not currently included within the boundaries of the proposed National Park and would, if those boundaries remain unchanged and the Orders are made, cease to have any designation. This area comprises 53 small parcels of land in various locations that are now (1) developed eg, by buildings or roads, or allocated for development or (2) degraded so as no longer to be in a condition fit to warrant designation or (3) not appropriate boundaries eg, because they cross the middle of a field rather than following the edge.
The Countryside Agency will only make this Revocation Order if it decides to make a Designation Order for the South Downs National Park. The Agency will only then apply to the Secretary of State to confirm this Order if she intends to confirm the Designation Order for the South Downs National Park. The Revocation Order and the Designation Order would take effect at the same time, so there would be no time when the area of approximately 975 square kilometres was not designated.
Representations and objections may be made in relation to the boundaries of the proposed National Park in response to any Designation Order that may be made.
Representations and objections to the de-designation of whole or part of the AONB may be made as set out at the bottom of this notice.
Copies of the draft AONB Revocation Order, together with maps of the AONB, a map of the current proposed national park boundary and a list of the 53 excluded parcels of land may be inspected, free of charge, at the following locations:

The Countryside Agency, John Dower House, Crescent Place, Cheltenham GL50 3RA, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday;
Adur District Council, Planning and Policy Division, Civic Centre, Ham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex BN43 6PR, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.30 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am and 5.00 pm on Friday;
Arun District Council, Planning Department, Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5LF, between the hours of 8.45 am and 5.15 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45 am and 4.45 pm on Friday;
Brighton and Hove City Council, Information and Advice Centre, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ, between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday;
Chichester District Council, Planning Reception, East Pallant House, 1 East Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1TY, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday;
Eastbourne Borough Council, Planning Department, 68 Grove Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 4UH, between the hours of 9.30 am and 5.00 pm on Wednesday and 9.00 am and 5.00 pm on other weekdays;
East Sussex County Council, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE, between the hours of 8.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am and 4.30 pm on Friday;
Horsham District Council, Planning Department, Park North, North Street, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1RL, between the hours of 8.45 am and 5.20 pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45 am and 4.20 pm on Friday;
Lewes District Council, Planning and Environmental Services, Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1DW, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am and 4.30 pm on Friday;
Mid Sussex District Council, Environment Directorate, Oaklands, Oaklands Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1SS, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am and 4.00 pm on Friday;
Surrey County Council, County Hall, Penryhn Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 2DN, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday;
Waverley Borough Council, The Burys, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1HR, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday;
Wealden District Council, at either Council Offices, Pine Grove, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 1DH, or at Council Offices, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2AX, between the hours of 8.30 am and 5.30 pm Monday to Friday;
West Sussex County Council, The County Secretary, County Hall, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 1RQ, between the hours of 8.15 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday; and
Worthing Borough Council, Planning Department, Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1LF, between the hours of 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am and 4.00 pm on Friday.

Any person who wishes to make an objection or representation concerning the draft Order should write to Sarah Lloyd, The Countryside Agency, Dacre House, 19 Dacre Street, London SW1 0DH, stating the grounds of their objection or representation. Such objections or representations should be sent to arrive no later than 27 September 2002.
For enquiries relating to this notice please telephone 020 7340 2991.
R Wakeford, Chief Executive, The Countryside Agency
27 August 2002.