For several years campaigners have been working to protect the ancient Sussex woodland at Titnore, just outside Worthing, as a proposed 875 new homes and associated road-widening scheme threatens 265 old growth trees.
Despite the efforts of police and private security to intimidate and make life difficult, a camp has been sustained on the development site for the past four months in an attempt to defend the woodland through occupation. At the end of August however, campers lost their legal appeal against an eviction order and the camp has been under threat ever since. With gangs of police evidence gatherers arriving on site in recent days wielding cameras, eviction of the camp now seems imminent and the camp urgently needs support - calling for material and human resources to help resist moves to evict.
Reprieve for majority
However, there's also some good news. At the end of September Worthing council announced a change to the proposed road widening aspect of the scheme - the change would result in around 200 of the trees being reprieved. Responding to this news, campaigners vowed to continue their occupation of the site and defence of the trees until it could be guaranteed that all of them would saved.
On 7 October there's an opportunity to show your support and check out the site, when a “mass mobilisation against Titnore development” will be held (meet Durrington station 2pm).
Happy Blingin birthday!
In related news, Southend's road protest site - Camp Bling - celebrated its first year of occupation on 23 September. The camp was established to stop the controversial widening of the A127/A1159 Priory Crescent, felling of 111 trees, concreting of 3000m2 of public open space, and destruction of the world famous East Saxon king's burial discovered in 2003.
In an effort to thwart the project, it is rumoured that one of the deepest protest tunnel systems ever known has now been dug, to enable the site to be defended from any eviction should the road be approved.
The camp is very friendly and welcomes support. See contact details below.