THE South Downs National Park Authority has given consent for a 20-bedroom extension at a care home which objectors claim will have "a massive adverse impact on the character, setting and tranquility of the national park".

The extension is to be built at a large nursing home for dementia patients on Marley Common, despite the pleas of neighbours and parish councils.

The controversial decision, taken by the authority's planning committee last week, was to approve the extension for the St Magnus building, part of the Rosemary Park nursing home complex off Marley Lane.

It will be built on the side, up to a height of three floors, with extra wards, nurse stations and a communal area - for 150 beds overall.

But another extension for 12 extra bedrooms for the Park House building– a hospice unit and part of the same care home complex – was turned down.

For full story, see this week's Haslemere Herald.