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The link – a rural car park at Kithurst Hill near Storrington – is set to close next month but residents are putting up a fight to save it.

Thousands have signed a petition seeking help from West Sussex County Council and the South Downs National Park Authority to keep the car park open.

Pip Jennings, who started the petition, said: “The car park is a vital link to the South Downs Way and National Park for residents of Storrington/Pulborough and a great many visitors from further afield.

Pip Jennings has organised a petition to save a 'vital link' to the South Downs at Kithurst Hill. People are upset at the proposed closure of the Kithurst Hill car park, Storrington, which many use to access walking and riding routes across the South Downs Pic S Robards SR2211071

"It allows for easy, safe access for vehicles and horse box parking so walkers, runners, riders and bikes etc can enjoy this area of outstanding natural beauty. Crucially for those with mobility issues, locally there are no other suitable access points.”

The car park is on privately-owned land at the top of Kithurst Hill and has been managed by WSCC for a number of years. However, the council has said it cannot continue – and the private landowner cannot obtain public insurance cover without it.

In their petition, residents add: “We believe the South Downs National Park Authority and West Sussex County Council must continue discussions with the landowner to find a sustainable solution to manage this car park and ensure that this vital access point is available for us all to be able to enjoy the South Downs National Park.”

A spokesperson for the SDNPA said: “We understand this is a difficult and emotive issue. The private landowner of Kithurst car park was supported by West Sussex County Council, which has taken the decision to withdraw its support.

There are proposals to close a 'vital link' to the South Downs at Kithurst Hill, Storrington. Photo: Steve Robards

"When the private landlord stated that they would need to close without this support, the Authority was clear that unfortunately it could not take on responsibility for the car park."

The independent South Downs National Park trust looked into whether it could manage the car park, but decided it was not able to take on the long-term substantial financial liabilities.

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “We do understand people’s disappointment and were hopeful that a third-party could have taken over the management of this privately-owned car park.

“The county council’s agreement with the landowner to manage the car park at Kithurst Hill expired in 2020. We did not plan to renew the agreement - in line with our approach of focusing resources on county council-owned land. However, a third party expressed an interest in taking on the management. To allow time for the landowner to negotiate a new agreement, we put a temporary agreement in place, running until December 2022.

“Unfortunately, following discussions, the third-party was unable to take on the management of the car park, so now the council will be exiting the current temporary agreement when it ends on 21st December 2022.”

Visit the petition at www.change.org/p/save-kithurst-hill-car-park

Battle to save 'vital link' to routes across the South Downs