MOST councils in Sussex are keen for the Sussex Downs to be run as they are now by a conservation board, perhaps with increased powers.

But Brighton and Hove Council would like to see it organised like a national park and claims it has the backing of the people. It was the only authority in Sussex to carry out its own consultation on the the future management of the Downs and local opinion was overwhelming in favour of national park status. For this reason Brighton and Hove thought that its opinions should carry extra weight with the Countryside Commission. Wisely, the Commission has said that it will not favour one council over another, no matter how much extra work it has done. But when making its judgement on the Downs, it ought to consider that many councillors want the status quo because they will keep more control than they would with a national park. No decision should be made on that basis.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.