A BIG date in the calendar for the battle to save Titnore Woods is fast approaching.
On Saturday May 24, supporters will gather on the steps of Worthing Town Hall, at 2pm, for a party to celebrate the second birthday of Camp Titnore, the eco-protest camp at West Durrington.
The campaign has, of course, being going a lot more than two years, but the extraordinary achievement of those who have kept alive a continued presence in the woods since May 2006 just cannot be over-emphasised.
Not every one is able to get down to the camp to express their support, so this event in the town centre is a great opportunity to show the protesters you are with them in spirit.
In line with the party theme, you are invited to wear and bring party stuff - hats, balloons, whatever you fancy. And it is hoped to have a musical element as well - so if you know anyone who can play and bring instruments along on the day, please encourage them to do so.
Media are being invited to the event and it would be great to have a decent turn-out, so please forward this message on to other people - let's make a real effort to celebrate in style and communicate our ongoing determination to see off this threat to Worthing's environmental heritage!
A CANDIDATE supporting the Titnore Woods eco-protest camp in Worthing was arrested at the election count on Friday.
Dawn Smith, who was standing for the Stop Durrington's Overdevelopment - Save Titnore's Trees party, in the borough's Northbrook ward, was arrested after a row at Worthing's Assembly Hall, apparently for "disorderly behaviour".
She was thrown to the ground by police, held down with her hands behind her back, knelt on and handcuffed, then held for four hours at Durrington police station - all for objecting to her supporters being violently ejected from the count.
Dawn, who has not been charged, explained that there was confusion over the passes for her guests at the count, who included Titnore eco-campers. Names she had registered did not seem to have been recorded, in an official bungle.
Other people, considered of "respectable" appearance, were waved through by security but they demanded ID from her supporters.
While she went to try and sort the error, some of the campers wandered through into the hall and were attacked and physically thrown out by security staff in what she called a "complete over-reaction".
Dawn objected vocally. She said: "I shouted at them. The only reason they did this was because the guys had dreadlocks. I'm not going to stand by and see someone jumped on."
She went outside to report the assault to police, but found they were less than sympathetic and a female police officer threatened to arrest her for "shouting".
When she persisted with her complaint, explaining she was a candidate and the people ejected were her guests, she was again threatened with arrest.
She said: "I turned to go in and the next thing I knew I was on the floor."
Dawn and the campers are looking at taking legal action over the incident.
* Dawn notched up a creditable 99 votes in the ward which, with the usual low Northbrook turnout, translates to 11% of the votes. She pushed the BNP back into fourth and last place.
Good news for the Titnore trees! One of the developers for the West Durrington project has announced that the economy has forced it to halt new building work! - see report below.
Perhaps because of this, a new application still does not seem to have been received for the site by the council.
This means it is more important than ever to keep the campaign going strong - with a bit more effort we may actually be able to do the impossible and Save Titnore Woods!
A stall will be held in Montague Place, Worthing town centre, on Saturday May 10, from 11am. And then on Saturday May 24, at 2pm, there will be a celebration of the second anniversary of the tree camp on the steps of the town hall - please make an effort to attend, if at all possible, and forward details to anyone who may be interested. There will also be a celebration at the camp itself that evening.
Britain's biggest homebuilder halts new projects
Graeme Wearden
Thursday April 24 2008
guardian.co.uk
Persimmon, Britain's biggest homebuilder, today called on the government to urgently consider lifting the stamp duty threshold as the weakening housing market forced it to halt new building work.
In a grim update on the health, or otherwise, of the UK housing market, the company said that its sales had slumped in April. Cancellation rates also increased this month, as banks and building societies started pulling their mortgage deals.
Activity was down even before the credit crunch hit mortgage availability. Persimmon has sold 18% fewer houses so far this year than a year ago - despite having cut prices, offered more incentives to buyers and upped its marketing activity.
In a statement accompanying its annual general meeting, the company pleaded for some help from the government warning that the £50bn bailout for the banking sector agreed this week may not be enough.
"We believe that the government should urgently consider additional action to benefit first-time buyers by increasing the threshold for stamp duty to support an improvement in activity and help those who are most in need of assistance," Persimmon said.
At present, buyers only escape paying stamp duty if they buy a house for less than £125,000, or £150,000 in disadvantaged areas.
In a research note, Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander commented that Persimmon seemed to have thrown in the towel on hopes of any improvement in the second half of the year, and was now "reduced to pleading for government help".
The tougher market conditions mean Persimmon will not commence building work at any new sites until it sees evidence of a recovery. Ominously, it said only that market activity would increase "at some stage".
"Because of the uncertainties of the global economy and the UK lending environment it is difficult to predict when the market will improve," it said.
A spokesman explained that work is continuing at its current building sites.
The gloomy forecast sent Persimmon's shares tumbling by nearly 9% by midday. Other housebuilders also suffered, with Barratt Developments plunging 13% and Taylor Wimpey 10% lower.
The scale of the challenge facing housebuilders was underlined yesterday by the British Bankers Association, which said demand for mortgages had fallen to its lowest level since 1997.
The government met with lenders earlier this week and urged them to pass on recent interest rate cuts.
Analysts at Landsbanki predicted this morning that mortgage lending may start to recover in June.
A TITNORE candidate will be standing in the Worthing Borough Council elections on May 1 in the local Northbrook ward, we have just heard, under the title "Stop Durrington's Over-Development, Save Titnore's Trees!". Anyone who would like to help out in any way can contact Dawn at dawn_smithee@lineone.net.
Meanwhile, the camp needs its calor gas supply refilled. Anyone with transport who can help out should contact the camp.
AS THE second anniversary of Camp Titnore grows closer, and with no sign yet of the new revised planning application for the site ("mid-May by the latest" is the latest estimate from Worthing council), the campers are getting into summer season mood by starting a Sunday Free Cafe on the last Sunday of every month, inviting local people and kids to go down and get involved. There wll be music, workshops, free food, stuff for children etc. The first of these will be on Sunday March 30 - so spread the word and book the day in your diary!
STILL no news of a new planning application for the site. But there is news of a book re-launch that will be of interest to eco-activists. Nine Miles: Two Winters of Anti-Road Protest by Jim Hindle (ex-Worthing man), seeks to portray the fight against the Newbury bypass and other road protests of the British Isles in the mid-1990s. It was a fight characterised by extreme cold, fire and community, cider, drugs and living simply in the woods. It was a fight to preserve our natural inheritance, to make the case for sustainable transport in the face of powerful vested interests and in a wider sense, to stand up for the earth herself at a time when our lifestyles are often grossly out of balance with the natural order of things. Ten years on, that fight has lost none of its urgency.
The book is now in its second edition, with 16 pages of colour photographs. ISBN 978-0-9552737-1-1
Copies can be ordered via www.ninemiles.co.uk A launch will take place at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton at 7pm on Wednesday the 12th March.
Sunday February 10
TITNORE supporters who are available on Tuesday morning (February 12) are urged to turn up for a protest/photocall outside the re-opening of the South Downs National Park Public Inquiry. 9.30am outside the Chatsworth Hotel, The Steyne, Worthing. We want Titnore Woods included inside the park's boundaries.
APOLOGIES for the long delay in updating this page. Fortunately no news is good news and the camp is still thriving, despite the recent storms. Latest indications on the new revised planning application is that it may be submitted in February.
A SUPPORT stall for the camp is planned to be held in Montague Place, Worthing, this coming Saturday (December 15) from 11am - weather permitting!
A MESSAGE has been issued from Protect Our Woodland! about Camp Titnore:
"This will be the second Christmas that the woodland defenders have spent in the trees defending them and as last year we hope to put together a few things to make their festivities as jolly as possible. Please follow this link to see if you can help: spareathought
HEALTHY numbers of activists are currently in place at the camp, boding well for the winter ahead. Don't forget the protesters when you are out shopping for Christmas - warm clothes (especially socks), food etc are always very welcome.
AS YET, there is no sign that the new planning application for Titnore Woods has been submitted to the council. However, there are fears that the authorities could be trying to sneak it through without anyone noticing. The part of the council website allowing people to search the applications lists contains the ominous sounding let-out clause: "NOTE: For reasons of confidentiality, Worthing Borough Council may choose not to display certain Planning Applications." Please keep your eyes and ears open for any info.
THE FOLLOWING important update to the Titnore planning application situation was tucked away in this week's (November 8) Worthing Herald (on page 40!):
"The borough council revealed this week that a revised planning application for the massive scheme was expected to be received from the developers' consortium within a couple of weeks.
"James Appleton, the council's assistant director (planning services) said the first application was submitted three years ago. Since then, it had been necessary to prepare a new environmental-impact statement, including effects on traffic and woodland.
"He said West Sussex County Council did not now require the straightening of Titnore Lane, and this meant more than 150 trees would be saved.
"Mr Appleton said work could start towards the end of next year if the application could be approved reasonably quickly.
"Asked what would then happen to the anti-development tree protesters in Durrington woods, Mr Appleton said that would be up to whoever owned the land at that time."
VISITORS to the camp in the last couple of weeks will have noticed an impressive addition, in the shape of the new communal area. It's worth the trip down there to have a look, and of course give your support to all those on site, battling to protect our environment.
SUPPORTERS of Camp Titnore are being invited to a meeting in Worthing town centre on Thursday evening, October 25. A video screening will be followed by an update on the campaign and a discussion on how to boost efforts. It is being held upstairs at The Rest in Bath Place, Worthing (near Woolworth's) from 8pm.
FRESH vegetables and cheap socks are on the wish list from the camp this week. They could also do with some flexi flue pipe for burners, pasta, polyprop rope (as ever) and blankets. If anyone has a van and half a day to spare, their help would be appreciated (petrol costs can be paid). Meanwhile, anyone who needs some odd jobs doing - gardening or tree work, for example - might like to enquire at the camp. 07913 534083.
WITH THE nights getting colder again, work continues on a new communal area for the camp, aimed at sheltering the campers from worst of the weather and out of the mud - this is a wet area. An appeal has gone out for more polyprop climbing rope to help with these efforts. Contact the camp on 07913 534083 if you can help, or just call in at Titnore Woods.
A HIGHLY successful open day was held at the camp yesterday, with the sunshine making the woodlands the perfect scene for a pleasant day out. The only cloud on the horizon was the news that a fresh planning application is expected within the next few weeks, planning the permanent destruction of this idyllic rural site on the edge of our sprawling town...
SPIRITS are currently high at the camp, with an influx of new protesters, even though one of the stalwarts is currently struggling to get around with a leg in plaster. They are busy building a new communal area and also preparing for Saturday's open day. This will get going from around noon, until 5pm, and will feature various workshops (climbing, bender-building etc), as well as teas and coffees and, of course, the chance to chat with the campers and find out how they have managed to keep going for a year and four months! For those who fancy lingering longer, a musical jamming session and socialising is promised for the evening.
SUPPORTERS of the campaign to save Titnore Woods are being urged by Protect Our Woodland! to write in and demand that the area is covered in the planned South Downs National Park - an inspector has recommended that a much smaller area be protected than previously proposed. Info and sample letter www.protectourwoodland.co.uk/sdnp.htm. Meanwhile, a reminder that an open day is being held at Camp Titnore for Saturday September 15, from 12 noon. "Magic hat" food (by donation) will be served. The day will be followed in the evening by a jamming session - bring musical instruments. Anyone who would like to take part in the day by organising an event (talk, performance etc) should contact the camp on 07913 534083.
AN OPEN day has been announced at Camp Titnore for Saturday September 15, from 12 noon. "Magic hat" food (by donation) will be served. The day will be followed in the evening by a jamming session - bring musical instruments. Meanwhile, the forward-thinking campers are looking for supplies of pallets to use for walkways, for when the winter mud returns. Anyone who can help should call the camp on 07913 534083.
A CALL has gone out for supplies of concrete and tyres to help with the current work strengthening the camp's defences against future eviction attempts. Also needed urgently is someone with a vehicle capable of transporting heavy loads of this kind. Anyone who can help should call the camp on 07913 534083.
IT HAS been announced that the BBC will be filming in Worthing tomorrow, Saturday July 21, in connection with Camp Titnore. Volunteers are wanted to come and make it a good crowd - at two venues. Meet 10.45am in Montague Place, Worthing, for the info stall and 1pm at the camp. Bring banners etc.
CAMP Titnore is mentioned in the latest, July 2007, issue of Brighton's independent local newsletter Rough Music
SUMMER is back on at the camp and with it the prospect of combining a natural lifestyle with a frontline battle against environmental destruction. More people are always needed to keep the camp going and make it even stronger - so maybe this is the time for YOU to join the battle!
Today (Saturday June 23) supporters of Camp Titnore are being asked to come and help tidy up the site and help with work restoring the living areas following recent damage. There's also the chance to chat with fellow campaigners. People will be arriving from 12 noon and staying until early evening - but shorter visits are also very welcome.
COMPLAINTS have been made to the Co-Op supermarket in The Strand, Durrington, and a security firm after an unpleasant and unnecessary incident on Sunday night.
A couple of Titnore campers were out "skipping" - liberating from skips items of perfectly edible food thrown away by shops because they are past their official sell-by date.
It appears a security guard totally overreacted to what is only a technical offence (the food would otherwise go to waste and add to the landfill crisis!) and initially made various threats against the hungry campers.
The campers described how the security man then started grabbing food that had been picked up from outside other shops. When one of them threw a pizza to his friend for safekeeping, the guard grabbed the young woman in question by the throat and pushed her to the floor - "It was just unbelievable - I never saw anyone getting so stressed over a 12 inch pizza."
It is worth remembering that private security guards are not even legally allowed to touch people, let alone attack them. But maybe they think the usual laws against assault don't count when the victim seems to be someone who might not be able to strike back? In this case, the security Rottweiler may well find he has bitten off more than he can chew...
* People attending the June 23 workday/clean-up are also invited to bring building materials, polyprop rope, banner making stuff etc (see below).
THE LATEST wish-list from the camp includes: leisure battery (or car battery), water pump, traditional tarp, windbreakers, hammocks, polyprop rope (6mm and 10/12 mm), wood, acrylic paint, banner-making stuff. Don't forget the work day on June 23!
A CLEAR-UP and repair day at Camp Titnore has been announced for Saturday June 23. The idea is that volunteers from outside the camp come along for a few hours and help make the camp in tip-top condition as it begins its second summer of protest occupation. Bring carrier bags to take away rubbish (bin bags get too heavy to carry over the fields!) plus tools, skills (if you have any - but this is not essential!). From 12 noon.
THE MILESTONE of the first year has been sucessfully reached. Congratulations to Camp Titnore!
ONLY a week to go to the first anniversary of the camp. A reminder that a special birthday ceremony will be held in Montague Place, Worthing town centre, at 2pm next Saturday, May 26. All supporters are invited - bring your own party stuff!
A BICYCLE repair man is being sought by the Titnore campers. There are a couple of useful pedal-powered means of transport on the site, but they need fixing. If anyone has the skill, the kit, the time and the inclination, it would be great if they could pop down and help sort them out.
An update on the Protect Our Woodland site.
A DATE has now been fixed for the town centre celebration of Camp Titnore's first birthday. It is on Saturday May 26, 2pm at Montague Place. Bring balloons, cake, cards, party hats - whatever you think is appropriate to mark this very special occasion.
Meanwhile, an informal Beltane celebration, with music, will be held at the camp on Tuesday night, May 1, during the evening.
A new phone number has been announced for the camp - 0791 3534083. The old number no longer works so please change your records accordingly.
And the camp is appealing for donations of polypropylene rope. Any size is useful but 8mm is most in need, to replace walkways that have been up a long time.
WE HAVE learnt that a Titnore Woods benefit gig is to be held over in East Sussex on Friday May 18. It will feature radical singer/songwriter Robb Johnson, Nathan Godfrey, The Astral Gypsies, DJ Recycled plus SchNEWS film and raffle. Venue is The Rooms, Western Road, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex. 7-11pm. Free entry. Anyone fancy arranging a benefit here in Worthing?
THIS afternoon a young man passed away at the Titnore Woods campsite. It seems that he arrived at the eastern half of the site overnight - he was first spotted asleep on a sofa at around 10am. At around 2.30pm he was still alive and breathing. But at around 4pm campers noticed his faced has changed colour. They tried to rescuscitate him and called an ambulance, but to no avail. Police came to the site to deal with the death, which is not being treated as suspicious. Emergency services had left by 7pm. The deceased man's identity has not yet been released. Although nobody at the camp recognised him or had the chance to speak to him, they are understandably shocked by his death in their midst.
Anyone planning a morale-boosting visit to the site is reminded there are two sections in use - the eastern (Tesco side) and western (Titnore Lane) parts.
THE latest edition of The Ecologist features a very positive letter drawing people's attention to the battle to save Titnore Woods and the camp. The letter is not on the website (www.theecologist.org), but it does have details of how to order a copy.
MAY 28 will see the first anniversary of Camp Titnore and, with the winter behind us - despite the occasional blast of hailstones - minds are now turning to how to mark "T-Day", as it is being called. If you have any suggestions, you can email us here and we will add them to the proposals.
Meanwhile, the campers are looking to become more self-sufficient on site and would welcome any gifts of growbags for them to cultivate their own vegetables.
SPRING is in the air, the birds are singing in the trees and Titnore Woods is once again a lovely place to be...
With the end of a tough winter, the protest camp has today appealed for help in a spring offensive aimed at making sure it is in fighting fit shape as its first anniversary and another rebel summer approach.
Top of the wishlist at the moment are pallets, long support beams for treehouses, climbing equipment (not harnesses) and climbing rope. Also someone with a van or similar vehicle who would be able to help clear away rubbish from the site.
Most of all, of course, there is a plea for more people! Whether you can spare five minutes, five hours, five days, five weeks or five months, your physical presence in any supportive capacity is always appreciated. See the bottom of this page for directions and the camp mobile number.
A FUNDRAISING vegan roast meal for Camp Titnore is being held in Brighton tomorrow, Sunday March 11, we have just heard. It will be at the Cowley Club at 12 London Road, 5pm to 8pm. Meals at this alternative volunteer-run centre are always very reasonably priced.
WITH spring on the way, attempts are being made to clear up rubbish on the camp ready for the expected growth in numbers with the better weather. Visitors are being asked to bring bin bags or carrier bags with them, so they can take away a small amount of rubbish when they leave.
Report on march
CAMPAIGNERS marched on Worthing Police Station in West Sussex today (Saturday February 17)
to protest at intimidation of volunteers manning support stalls for the Titnore Woods camp.
Just over 60 people set off from Montague Place and marched around the town centre via
South Street, the pier, Steyne Gardens, Warwick Street and Chapel Road, before rallying
outside the police station in Chatsworth Road.
A letter to the police complaining about the threats to arrest people collecting money for
the campaign was read out and then handed in at the front office counter.
Some protesters then returned to Montague Place and collected cash from the public for camp
funds, in defiance of the police prohibition. A good sum was collected.
Said a spokesman for the campaigners: "The day passed off peacefully and with many
expressions of support from the Worthing public. We are making a point that we have a
democratic right to hold activities supporting Camp Titnore and we will not bow down to
these scare tactics, which seem to be political in origin.
"Whether the authorities like it or not, we are not going away and, both at the camp and in
the town, we will continue to battle to save Titnore Woods.
"Our thanks go to each and every individual who turned up today to join the protest - it is your strength and determination that makes this struggle so powerful."
Press Release issued today
WORTHING people are being urged to march on the town centre police station on Saturday (February 17) to defend free speech.
The protest has been called by campaign group TEA (Titnore Emergency Action) in response to intimidation of supporters of the Titnore Woods protest camp in Durrington.
Since May last year, a group of environmental activists has been camped out in the ancient woodland off Titnore Lane trying to protect the area from an 875-home housing development, new Tesco store and access roads.
And for much of that time town supporters have been receiving crucial donations for the camp from the Worthing public at regular stalls in Montague Place.
While these caused no problems for anyone for more than six months, in the run-up to Christmas police suddenly started threatening the volunteers with arrest for “unauthorised” collecting.
A statement from TEA declared: “This is nothing short of political harassment of Titnore supporters and flies in the face of local democracy, particularly the fact that the campaign has won the support of thousands of local people, who visit the stall to make their contribution to the tree house heroes.
"In protest at this draconian and unnecessary action, which has stopped vital fund-raising at a vital time, we call for a march on Worthing Police Station on Saturday February 17, heading off at 2pm from Holders Corner, Montague Place [near MacDonald's], Worthing.
"This will also be an opportunity to express ongoing support for the camp and the fight to Save Titnore Woods.
"We hope as many of you as possible will be there to lend your support for the efforts of our our friends on the stall and in the woods.”
A few days later, on Thursday February 22, campaigners will be showing video footage of the Titnore Woods campaign at a meeting upstairs at The Rest in Bath Place, Worthing, from 8pm.
Said Dave Phillips of Worthing eco-action: “We have got hold of a copy of the latest DVD from SchNEWS, a Brighton protest group, called V for Video Activist. There are a couple of sections there devoted to the Titnore Woods battle, which is great, because this will be seen by people all over the country and indeed across the world.
“There is footage of the camp itself, and interviews with tree protesters and members of the Worthing public, and also a clip from 2004 of one of the town centre protests. This is a useful reminder that the Titnore campaign was going on for years before the camp was set up as a last-ditch attempt to stop this disastrous development.
“People in Worthing have always been behind us in huge numbers on this issue and that is why it is totally wrong that the police should try and stop them contributing to a camp which is fighting to save the local environment fo the sake of all of us in Worthing, and for generations yet to come.”
More information can be found online at www.protectourwoodland.co.uk, www.southcoast.indymedia.org.uk or www.eco-action.org/porkbolter
TWO video screenings relating to Camp Titnore are lined up in Worthing in February. At the Worthing Green Social meeting on Wednesday February 14 there will be a screening of the excellent short video on the protest camp made by some students from Surrey, which was shown with very little advance publicity at the last Worthing Alliance meeting.
Then at the February Worthing Alliance meeting, Thursday 22, there will be a special screening of V for Video Activist, the brand new SCHNews DVD, which includes two reports on the Titnore camp and campaign, as well as other protests from around the country. Both videos are well worth seeing and both meetings start at 8pm upstairs at The Rest in Bath Place, Worthing (off Montague Street not far from the pier).
A PROTEST march on Worthing Police Station has been called for Saturday February 17 in the face of police intimidation of Titnore Woods campaigners.
A statement from Titnore Emergency Action (TEA), released on Thursday January 18, said: "In the run-up to Christmas, supporters of the Titnore Woods campaign were trying to bring in food and cash donations to the camp, for obvious reasons.
"However as you may have heard, on no less than two occasions Worthing Police officers attended the stall and threatened with arrest our friends making the collections.
"This is nothing short of political harassment of Titnore supporters and flies in the face of local democracy, particularly the fact that the campaign has won the support of thousands of local people, who visit the stall to make their contribution to the tree house heroes.
"In protest at this draconian and unnecessary action, which has stopped vital fund-raising at a vital time, we call for a MARCH ON WORTHING POLICE STATION on Saturday February 17, heading off at 2pm from Holders Corner, Montague Place [near MacDonald's], Worthing.
"This will also be an opportunity to express ongoing support for the camp and the fight to Save Titnore Woods.
"We hope as many of you as possible will be there to lend your support for the efforts of our our friends on the stall and in the woods.
Titnore Emergency Action (TEA)"
Meanwhile, we have received some information suggesting that an attempted eviction of the Titnore camp might be very imminent. The source also suggested that Territorial Army personnel would be involved. While we do not want to "cry wolf" by sounding the alarm bells too often, we thought people should be aware of this. If anyone has any other information either supporting or contradicting this rumour, please get in touch with us, Protect Our Woodland or the camp. Or come to Thursday night's Worthing Alliance meeting (January 25). If there are plans to evict soon, there may be a connection with the recent heavy-handed treatment of Titnore supporters, mentioned above.
Sunday January 14
AS CAMP Titnore begins a new year, we have begun a new page of updates. All the previous stuff can still be found in the 2006 Archive. Here is a summary of the situation so far.
Property developers want to build 875 homes on land at West Durrington, Worthing, which includes ancient woodland and is on the fringes of the proposed South Downs National Park. Massive opposition to the plans by local people has been cynically ignored by Worthing Borough Council, despite years of protests, letter-writing and meetings. Although it claims its hands are tied by central government planning edicts, the council has not resisted the development in any way - it could, for instance, have requested that it be called in for a public inquiry because of the huge controversy it has created. The assault on local democracy has been intensfied by the frequent involvement, over the years, of Sussex Police, which seems to have set out to criminalise and marginalise anti-development campaigners by heavy over-policing of protests, unnecessary arrests, harassment of protesters etc. Eventually the development was given outline planning permission, subject to details being agreed. Anger over the way the development had been bulldozed through reached the point that people decided to occupy part of Titnore Woods in protest. A camp was set up on May 28 2006. In August the landowners, the Somersets, secured a High Court possession order claiming they needed to evict the camp urgently to start building work. However, final planning permission had not yet been rubber-stamped and, after intervention by the Worthing Society, the council was forced to look again at the proposed changes and speed limits in Titnore Lane, from where the new estate would be accessed. All has gone quiet on this front for some time, with the suggestion that the plans are being reworked by the developers. It is not clear whether they will have to start again with the planning process or whether any new version will be treated as a mere amendment. In the meantime, eviction has not been attempted at the camp and the eco-stalwarts are still there. Fresh supporters arrive from time to time to give new impetus and the camp has expanded well beyond the original area. The challenge for 2007 will be to keep morale and numbers high, plus keeping the public in Worthing and beyond aware and informed of the battle that is taking place.
Among items on the wishlist for the camp are sealable metal containers to keep foood supplies safe from marauding mice!
Donations
Donations for Camp Titnore can be made in central Worthing, thanks to Down to Earth organic and natural healthfood shop. The shop is at 175 Montague Street (towards Rowlands Road, nearly opposite the Co-op) and is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.
IF EVICTION begins, supporters are being asked to go as soon as possible to the camp, congregating in Fulbeck Avenue, Durrington, if access is barred. Then on the first Saturday after any eviction there will be a protest against eviction and against development. Fulbeck Avenue, Durrington. 12 noon.
The camp is in woods just north of "Somerset Lake", a fishing lake east of Titnore Lane. However, Titnore Lane is very dangerous for pedestrians and easiest access is from Fulbeck Avenue, off Titnore Way. Take the path at the far east of Fulbeck Avenue, then turn left until there is a large gap in the hedgerow on the left, opposite a cleared square of ground on the right, and cross right over to the far side of the field, keeping the clump of trees to your left.
It can also be reached via the car park at Tesco's in Durrington, served by the "Pulse" bus route from Worthing town centre. Basically head straight on from the entrance to the fields at the back end of the supermarket car park, reaching the gap in the hedgerow mentioned above.
Nearest railway stations are Durrington and Goring by Sea on the main South Coast line with direct trains from Brighton, Portsmouth and London.
There is a camp phone [NOW 07913 534083 - OLD NUMBER DELETED APRIL 2007]
Keep up to date with Protect Our Woodland! and Southcoast Indymedia
Tuesday January 22
Wednesday December 12
Sunday December 2
Sunday November 25
Sunday November 18
Sunday November 11
Sunday November 4
Sunday October 21
Sunday October 7
Sunday September 30
Sunday September 16
Sunday September 9
Sunday September 2
Monday August 13
Sunday July 29
Friday July 20
Sunday July 15
Sunday July 8
Saturday June 23
Tuesday June 12
Tuesday June 5
Sunday June 3
Monday May 28
Sunday May 20
Monday May 7
Monday April 30
Sunday April 29
Thursday April 19
Sunday April 8 - sad death at Camp Titnore
Tuesday April 3
Monday March 19
Sunday March 11
Saturday March 10
Saturday March 3
Saturday February 17
Sunday February 11
Sunday February 4
Sunday January 21
Eviction protests
Directions
CAMP TITNORE 2006 ARCHIVE
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