We’ve No Confidence in You.
A MASSIVE vote of no-confidence in Worthing's ruling parties - that's how Titnore Woods campaigners are describing Thursday's election in the Northbrook ward.
The ward recorded a much lower turnout than the rest of the borough in the ballot, following a campaign urging locals to register a "vote of no-confidence" in the politicians who gave the go-ahead for the controversial 900-home Greenfield development. Protect Our Woodland (POW!) supporters took to the streets on Wednesday night, May 3, calling for people to stay away from the polling stations and their message seems to have been heeded.
While the percentage of those voting across Worthing ranged from 30% to 41%, in Northbrook, the area next to the planned development, it was an amazingly low 22% - meaning 78% of the population did not turn out.
Said John Clark of Protect Our Woodland: "The people of Northbrook ward have made it clear time and time again that they are totally opposed to the Titnore development. Despite that, the ruling parties have ignored public opinion and pretended nothing has happened. Coupled with the disillusionment in Worthing council caused by soaring council taxes and the Sherlygate fiasco, it is hardly surprising that voters have stayed away from the polls.
"We are not claiming that the 78% abstention
figure is entirely down to our campaigning - when we were out leafleting many
people assured us they already had no intention of voting for either candidate.
"But we do feel it is conclusive proof that the huge majority of residents
feel completely betrayed by the council. Our so-called
democracy has failed the people of Durrington and they have made this clear to
the politicians in no uncertain fashion."
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Editors’ notes.
The Protect Our Woodland
alliance is comprised of: The Worthing Society. East Preston and Kingston
Preservation Society. Worthing Friends of the Earth. Worthing and West Sussex
Green Parties and South Coast Against Roadbuilding (SCAR) together with many of
the residents of Durrington, Worthing.