DOUG Jones is Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council’s representative on the South Downs National Park Authority.

He has been a parish councillor for Buriton for several years and the East Hampshire parish council representative with the national park authority for three years, with a background in town planning.

He explained during a visit to Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council that the national park authority’s planning committee comprises 27 members – 14 of whom were appointed by each local authority in the park, including six elected parish councillors and seven members appointed by the Secretary of State.

The national park covers roughly 100 miles from Eastbourne to Winchester and is mostly rural.

The South Downs National Park Authority receives around 4,000 planning applications each year, the majority of which are considered under arrangement by the appropriate district council, based on the park authority’s planning policies.

Mr Jones added that the national park authority can call in applications if they are considered significant, which would then be put before its own planning committee, which meets on the second Thursday of each month at its Midhurst headquarters.

The policies in East Hampshire District Council’s Local Plan are being revised to produce a document which will supersede all current plans to generate a common policy for the whole park.

A public consultation is due to take place in September or October and the park authority will be asking for feedback from parish councils.

The South Downs National Park Authority has appointed Natalie Fellows, to work as a link officer with district, town and parish councils, and who should be notified if it is felt an application should be called-in.

Mr Jones was appointed on the South Downs Joint Committee by Natural England between 2008 and 2011, and served on its executive committee.

At local level, he has co-ordinated a number of community initiatives in Buriton, fostering local social and economic well-being, raising awareness of and respect for the local heritage and conserving and enhancing the local environment.

He has also helped other communities with village design statements, parish plans, local landscape character assessments, food and farming initiatives, environmental traffic calming and local heritage projects.

In his working career he was a chartered town planner and transport planner for local authorities and in consultancy before joining the Local Government Association, in London.

As a director his responsibilities included senior relationships with a wide range of organisations across many policy areas including planning, transport, housing, rural affairs, economic development, tourism and sustainable development.

* Newly co-opted parish councillor Susan Garnett has volunteered to head the Bramshott and Liphook Neighbourhood Plan.

Parish council chairman Michael Croucher explained barrister Mrs Garnett’s legal background made her ideally suited for the role.

But the significant commitment means Mrs Garnett will not serve on any other parish committees. She is expected to start meeting EHDC staff and other council representatives shortly.