Stop the access road! Support the tree camp! Keep up the pressure! Meet
at Durrington station at 2pm to head en masse for Titnore Woods.
16 September 2006.
We've just received this from www.protectourwoodland.co.uk and would you
believe it a Tory MP with shades of green!
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Please don't think that just because we've been quiet for a while nothing
has happened. It's just we wanted a bit of hush as the campaign tried
another approach.
As many of you will remember, due to the controversy created by the Titnore
development we felt all the arguments should be tested by barristers at a
Public Inquiry. Our request for such an Inquiry was rejected by the Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister in 2004 but we have never given up hope that an
Inquiry will be held.
We can now report that finally, yesterday saw the result of many weeks of
behind the scene negotiations by one of our supporters to arrange a meeting
with the local MP Peter Bottomley. In that hour long meeting, Mr Bottomley
listened to the concerns, from representatives of Worthing Friends of the
Earth, The East Preston and Kingston Preservation Society and Protect Our
Woodland, over the way the planning application for what has become to be
known as the Titnore development has been handled.
High on the list was the reason why so many trees needed to be felled in
Titnore lane to improve the alleged poor safety record, and why had it been
out of the question to impose a 40 mph speed limit instead of felling. The
point was made that during negotiations for approval of the nearby Angmering
bypass it was understood that if approval was granted steps would be taken
to reduce traffic using Titnore lane, in the interest of safety. To-date no
attempt has been made to implement that condition.
Still on traffic it was put to Mr Bottomley how inconsistent the Highways
Agency had been over their approach to the gridlocked A27 in the Worthing
area. On the one hand the Agency had objected to 90 houses being built near
to the eastern boundary of the town, due to the 'over trafficked A27'. Yet
they didn't object to the Titnore application with over 850 new houses etc
on the western boundary, even though most of the traffic from that
development would travel through the eastern boundary to Brighton etc.
Other topics discussed were:
Why is English Nature being so shy in responding to requests to revisit the
site and carry out a new environmental impact assessment when their original
one, carried out nearly five years ago, is clearly so out of date.
The issue of the risk to public safety of the 'balancing pond' scheme to
cope with flooding. It was pointed out that the idea was the result of a
computer modelling exercise and the benefit of local knowledge had been
ignored. Mr Bottomley was also made aware that many Ferring residents were
deeply concerned that the river Rife was to be used for the run off water.
It was remembered how in the past the Rife had overflowed several times
flooding homes with raw sewerage.
The risk to the main aquifer and drinking water by the proposed 'grouting'
to stabilise the marshy ground was clearly an issue of great importance due
to the present water shortage. Specialists in the field have warned us of
the risks involved in this operation that involves injecting underground at
extreme pressure a concrete mixture, as like the aquifer the grout finds its
way through cracks.
The threat of closure of Worthing hospital and the impact an extra 850
families would have on the already over-stretched NHS facilities. To even
think that either Brighton or Chichester could cope (assuming of course you
could get there and the A27 is not gridlocked) is irresponsible.
Although not promising anything, Mr Bottomley did say he would personally
forward a letter from the groups present to Ruth Kelly, the Secretary of
State for Communities requesting that the Titnore development be called in.
He has also said he supports a 40 mph speed limit along Titnore lane
We live in hope always
www.protectourwoodland.co.uk
In other court related news:
Worthing Borough Council has today been threatened with a Judicial Review - possibly in the High Court - that would be based on the decision of the Development Control Committee to recommend the approval of alterations to Titnore Lane, as part of its decision to grant outline planning permission for the development at West Durrington. The council have been told that the evidence submitted to their Development Control Committee, and presented at its meeting on March 28th, was defective in five main areas.
Barristers acting for the claimant, The Worthing Society, have stated that if legal proceedings are required, a quashing order will be sought from the Court quashing the grant of planning permission WB/04/00040/OUT together with an order for costs.
As ever people are asked to get down to the site if they can, things are really hotting up now and it looks like this could get really interesting
Today police invaded the campsite, ignoring section 6's and proceeded to film people and structures, a full report and video can be found here http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345461.html
Why not contact Worthing police here http://www.sussex.police.uk/npt/worthing/feedback.asp and give them some feedback on what you think about this completely illegal action
According to the IPCC you can make a complaint "if you are a friend
or relative of the victim of alleged police misconduct, distressed by
the affects" or acting on behalf of the victim or anyone present (with
permission in writing) we dont know if this counts as writing but why
not try it?
officers present include: CB518, DC657, CT304, CB570.
A wonderful day was had by all at the Camp titnore open day on saturday, a report on the day can be found here http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345222.html
and some lovely pictures of the day and some of the activities can be found here http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345266.html
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