TITNORE
campaigners have accused Worthing's two MPs of "acting like cowards"
by keeping silent on the issue. They say it is "appalling" that, as
the treetop protesters celebrated their first full week occupying the threatened
woods at West Durrington, neither of the borough's elected representatives had
managed to find anything at all to say about the latest dramatic turn of events.
Said
John Clark of Protect Our Woodland! (POW!): "We know that both these
politicians have expressed an interest in similar matters in the past.
"Peter Bottomley likes to be known for his concern for animal welfare,
while Tim Loughton was very eager to be associated with the successful campaign
to stop housing development on the countryside behind Beeches Avenue in
Broadwater.
"But
when it comes to this major local controversy, now attracting national and even
international attention because of the protest camp, they have suddenly come
over all shy.
"This
is, quite frankly, appalling. The pair of them are acting like cowards. The
people of Worthing have a right to hear what their MPs think about the threat to
Titnore Woods.
"If
they support the protest, then their voices will add to the strength of the
campaign and make it more likely to succeed.
"If
they oppose the protest, and support the development, then why have they not had
the courage to say so? Their constituents have a right to know where they
stand."
Mr
Clarke said he personally suspected the MPs were opposed to the protest, but
were unwilling to say so because they realised the campers had the support of
the vast majority of Worthing residents.
He said: "The protesters in Titnore Woods have really been overwhelmed by
the positive response from locals and the media.
"It seems that everybody's talking about it and I have yet to hear anyone
say they support the views of the Somerset family and the property developers.
"This
is really sending a clear and powerful message to the powers-that-be at Worthing
Town Hall and in London - Worthing does not want this development!"
POW! has this week been urging its supporters to write to Worthing Borough Council urging it not to give the final seal of approval to the development, in the light of the massive support that has materialised for the protesters (1).
It
is also suggesting that the council convene emergency talks with the landowners,
the Somerset family.
POW!
says the council should urge them not to sell the land to the property
developers, but instead to sell or donate the woods to a body such as the
National Trust "which could protect and preserve this valued local
landscape for future generations of Worthing people".
ENDS
Editors
note.
More information on the campaign can be found on Protect Our Woodland's website at:
www.protectourwoodland.co.uk
and www.eco-action.org/porkbolter