David Coldwell's Contact Details

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Friends of the South Downs

Pulborough, England, United Kingdom • 6 Employees
Civic & Social Organization

The ‘Friends of the South Downs' are a membership charity, based in Pulborough in West Sussex, working in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority and the South Downs National Park Trust to campaign, protect and conserve the landscape of the Park, so that it can be enjoyed by everyone, for future generations.Amongst other things the Society is active in planning and planning policy matters. We comment on planning applications, respond to new planning issues and aim to promote the best planning results for the South Downs National Park. The Policy Officer works with the Society's trustees to develop the Society's planning policy, manage response to planning issues and liaise with the South Downs National Park Authority, other public bodies and organisations active in the area.The Society were keen campaigners for the creation of the South Downs National Park which came into being in 2012. The new National Park designation provides the highest planning protection in the planning system. However, having this high level of protection doesn't mean to say our countryside is safe. We are in the crowded south-east of England and there is constant pressure on the South Downs for new land developments. For decades the Society has tried to ensure that this 100 mile stretch of iconic and naturally beautiful landscape covering an area of over 400,000 acres (1.6K hectares) is conserved and enhanced, whilst protecting wildlife and cultural heritage. How do we go about ensuring the Park will survive for future generations to enjoy it? Any new development must have planning permission and we monitor new planning applications. Some may not be in accordance with the National Park purposes, so we send representations the Park Authority following the principles which were used to set up England's National Parks. We do this through a team of volunteers who keep a check on applications in their local area and raise any problems or issues with the Society's Policy.