Marion Spain's assurances that the Countryside Agency is going as fast as it can in designating the South Downs a National Park ring a little

hollow.

Earlier this year, it extended an already lengthy process by almost a year to draw up a vision for the South Downs. Yet, when I attended a so-called public consultation back in July, the Countryside Agency admitted it did not know what it was going to do with this vision once finished.

Several months later, it has abandoned the initial work and started all over again, wasting even more time.

While due time is required in setting up the National Park, we have had numerous consultations on the issue over the last few years. Delaying the process is not allowing more people to get involved, it is just allowing opponents to spread even more false rumours and misinformation. The Countryside Agency should stop pussy-footing around and get on with it, otherwise we are not going to have a South Downs left worth preserving.

-Chris Todd, Brighton & Hove and Mid Sussex Friends of the Earth