Horncroft Common, site of the proposed sand pit. Photo: Shazz CC-BY-SA-2.0

Campaigners have welcomed the news that plans for a quarry in a national park have been withdrawn.

The proposed sand quarry at Horncroft Farm near Fittleworth in the South Downs national park would have seen 1.5m tonnes of sand extracted from a pit at the site.

But the Campaign for National Parks said the quarry would have wrecked the landscape of the national park.

Welcoming the shelving of the plans, Ruth Chambers, CNP deputy chief executive said: “We are delighted that the plans for a new quarry at Horncroft have been withdrawn.

“The quarry would have destroyed the landscape of this part of the South Downs national park and would have made a mockery of the highest status of protection that national parks enjoy because of their scenic beauty.

“We salute the many local campaigners, including the parish councils and the South Downs Society, who worked together with the Campaign for National Parks to fight this quarry threat.  The precious landscape of the South Downs will face many threats in the years ahead and will need the help of passionate campaigners in order to survive.”

Local Conservative MP Nick Herbert announced his opposition to the plans while he was still Shadow Environment Secretary before the last election.

The Woodland Trust also opposed the plans.