Local Liberal Democrat County Councillor Colin Wilsdon welcomed the announcement of the go ahead for a South Downs National Park after a long campaign in favour of the move that will protect this significant local landscape and promote tourism in the area.  This was despite opposition from local Conservatives who continue to call it the “wrong decision”.  It will also support measures to protect the strategic gap between Burgess Hill and Hassocks, and Ditchling; with the new boundary proposals detailed at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/Map%2021_tcm6-10378.pdf .

Colin Wilsdon says “I am extremely pleased about the decision to go ahead with the National Park. As well as the clear benefits of protecting the South Downs, the inclusion of Ditchling within the Park provides protection for a great swathe of countryside to the east of Hassocks, the south of Burgess Hill and over to Ditchling Common. Oldland Mill will be within the Park. It also opens the way for the development of Hassocks Station as a gateway to the National Park.”

“As a Liberal Democrat I have always supported the calls for a National Park. The public have supported it but the local Conservative run councils and the MP for Hassocks, have always opposed it. I am glad that their view has not prevailed.”

The boundary around the eastern side of Hassocks runs around Beaconhurst, Silverdale, Church Mead, Damian Way, Ockley Lane, halfway along Oldands Lane, north behind Ockley Manor Farm and runs just south of the boundary of Burgess Hill.  Going west it runs around the built-up boundary of Keymer, south of the burial ground, around Park Ave, south of the built up part of Southdown Farm, south of Downlands School, along the southern boundary of the allotments in Parklands Road, around Bonnywood Road, south of Hassocks Football Club pitch, south of Clayton Nursery, south of the bungalows in Brighton Road turning north to the nursery and west to Crossway Lane.