A national park would turn the South Downs into a rural museum and drive away local people, according to a landowners' group.

The Country Land and Business Association also believes the Downs would be killed as a social and economic entity and the carefully-preserved downland landscape lost if they were designated a national park.

The CLA said the efforts of Sussex landowners and land managers had helped the Downs flourish as an area of outstanding natural beauty, with tougher national park planning rules not needed.

CLA regional surveyor Fenella Collins said: "Restrictive planning inhibits new housing, distorts house prices and drives out locals.

"The proposed planning regime within the new national park threatens to accelerate the erosion of local communities in the South-East."

The comments follow publication of the CLA's submission to the public inquiry into the proposed national park, which begins on November 10.

Chris Todd, of the pro-national park South Downs Campaign, said many landowners wanted the national park because of the extra protection the status would provide.

He said: "It is a nonsense to say it would be turned into a museum. National parks are very much about living and working landscapes, while at the same time enhancing those landscapes."

Friday October 31, 2003