South Downs National Park given go-ahead

This is great news for all those who have campaigned for so long to achieve national recognition for this unique and vulnerable area.

Unfortunately, local Tories (particularly West Sussex County Council) who have opposed it at every stage still do not get it. Their opposition, and that of coalition partners including landowners, was based on retaining power and control. They are still saying they want "democratic" control over planning applications. What they mean is that they want to retain control. Sorry, but they have missed the point.

A new National Park Authority will be different from what has gone before. It must put long-term protection before anything else. That doesn't mean trying to preserve the area in aspic, but changes must on balance always be for the better.

Great news! Local leaders need to wake up and smell the coffee as they say.