The South Downs national park authority has pleaded with Google to reinstate it on the internet giant’s mapping service, after Britain’s newest national park disappeared from Google Maps for the fourth time.
The authority’s chief executive, Trevor Beattie, said he did not know why Google Maps kept deleting the park, but it was “very frustrating”.
“Everyone trusts Google so, as Britain’s newest national park, we’ve used Google Maps to help people find and enjoy the South Downs, volunteer and discover local food online. This stops working every time the South Downs national park gets removed,” he said.
Browsing Google Maps around the UK shows up other national parks – such as the New Forest, Peak District and Lake District – and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty such as the Chilterns. But the South Downs appears to only be easily found via search.
A Google spokeswoman said the company was investigating the issue. Google Maps is seen as a robust and accurate mapping service though it has suffered occasionally from mischievous edits by users, one of whom created an image of an Android robot urinating that was later deleted.
The South Downs national park authority said on its Facebook page that for Christmas it would like “peace on Earth and Google Maps to reinstate the South Downs national park”.
The park was created in 2009 and runs in a ribbon across chalkland downs and woodland in the two Sussex counties and Hampshire, protecting hundreds of square miles.
4 December 2015 update: Google Maps has reinstated the South Downs National Park
Well, we're hardly Santa, but your wish is our command @sdnpa #SouthDowns Now, onto peace on Earth... pic.twitter.com/X4rAHubhMo
— Google UK (@GoogleUK) December 3, 2015
