Lord Bracknell
On fire
There is no prospect of any early announcement about the final boundary of the National Park.This must be too good to be coincidence. The National Park had been on the backburner for months and suddenly, 2nd July an announcement......with the proposed 'Falmer' stadium site outside it.
All that is happening is that Defra have invited comments from interested parties on the possible effect of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 on the possible boundaries of the South Downs National Park. They are also seeking comments on a possible variation to the boundary between Petersfield and Pulborough.
They have floated a suggestion that the National Park Inquiry might be re-opened, possibly in late November.
The 2 July "announcement" is no such thing. All that will happen then is that Defra will officially publish the background papers on the 2006 Act and the maps of options in the Petersfield - Pulborough area. They will also publish the report on the earlier Public Inquiry - but that won't be a decision about the boundaries.
The reason the Argus published a story is that Defra have just written to the "interested parties" telling them about this further consultation exercise.
This will have no impact on the Falmer stadium announcement.