A public inquiry into plans for the controversial South Downs national park could take more than a year.

Objectors and supporters who met yesterday to discuss the details of the inquiry were told it could take up to 18 months.

The meeting, at the Pavilion Theatre in Worthing, included representatives from East and West Sussex county councils, conservationists and local action groups.

Government planning inspector Robert Parry said: "The inquiry will address the issues about the land within the proposed boundary of the national park and the separate but related issue of the establishment and operation of a South Downs National Park Authority.

"In addition, the inquiry will also hear objections to the consequent revocation orders for the East Hampshire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

The inquiry is due to start at the Assembly Hall in Stoke Abbot Road, Worthing, on November 10 at 2pm.

It will then transfer to the Chatsworth Hotel in Worthing.

Mr Parry said it would be conducted in three phases.

The first phase would deal with objections to the Designation Order and would be divided into two parts to consider objections in principle to the creation of the national park and boundary objections.

The second phase will deal with the proposed administrative arrangements and the third phases would consider objections to revoking the areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Attempts to obtain national park status to protect the natural beauty of the area have been going on for more than a century.

In April this year, rural affairs minister Alun Michael announced there would be a public inquiry into the plans because of local authority objections.

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