WORTHING'S ruling Tory group are running scared of the huge
public opposition to the threatened new housing estate off Titnore Lane in
Durrington.
That's the message from protest alliance Protect Our Woodland!
(POW!) which branded as "laughable" the Conservatives' attempt to
dissuade locals from opposing the property developers' plans. In a so-called "election special" of their
in Touch with Durrington newsletter, the Conservatives in fact devote little space
to election matters. Instead it attacks the opposition to the plans to put
more than 1100 houses and an upgraded road across green land, which includes
ancient woodland.
Said POW! spokesman John Clark: "Tory candidate Alan
Whiteley and his chums at the Town Hall have clearly been thrown into a blind
panic by local opposition to the Titnore Lane scheme. "Like most
politicians their response is not to actually listen to what people are saying
and represent their views. Instead they absurdly try and paint the campaign to
save the woodland as some kind of threat to the very people who are involved
in organising it - local residents! "For all their hot air, the
Conservatives cannot conceal the fact that their councillors have completely
failed to oppose what has been widely acknowledged as a disastrous and highly
destructive scheme.
"The lame excuse given in the newsletter for this betrayal
of Durrington people is that 'If they did so, the Council would be overruled.'
What a complete cop-out!"
The leaflet makes it plain that the Tories have no intention of raising a
finger to try and save Titnore's green fields and ancient woods, home to a
rich diversity of wildlife.
Instead it talks of "setting the standards of services and amenities to
be included in the development".
Commented Mr Clark: "The council, along with the
landowners and the property developers, clearly regard the scheme as a fait
accompli. It is that kind of attitude that forces people to make their
opposition known by holding protests like the one planned for Sunday May 26
2002 and by planning other ways of saving this precious land. "People in Worthing are seeing through the politicians
that are supposed to represent their views and that is why these politicians
are becoming so frightened. "The Tories' leaflet makes an unconvincing
attempt at demonising the Titnore campaigners, claiming the protests will lead
to 'disruption of our lives'. Mr Whiteley is quoted as saying, "Think long
and hard before supporting these people. They have an agenda. It may not be
yours."
Said Mr Clark: "POW! is a non-political alliance that was
specifically set up that way to take in the whole spectrum of opposition to
the Titnore scheme and its one and only agenda is to stop the development,
something the Tories plainly aren't going to do. "But then this is the
party that opposes the National Park for the South
Downs and whose leader in Worthing, Brian Lynn, wants to see a filthy great
motorway laid along the South Downs north of Cissbury Ring. "The Tories
certainly have an agenda of their own and it seems to have more in common with
that of the property developers and the landowners than with the ordinary
people of Durrington."
Following the election result
John Clark added: "By sweeping Mr Whiteley and
the Tories' weak leadership on the Titnore Lane issue aside, Durrington has
clearly show its total opposition to the development. Obviously he and
his group were not in touch with the
residents who cherish the cultural history importance of the Titnore Lane
area. However whilst we welcome the statements issued by the incoming
Lib Dems that they oppose the damaging scheme, we will
be watching them. The next election isn't that far away".
Anyone who wants to meet POW! supporters for themselves and
discuss the Tories' accusations is welcome to attend the group's next meeting
upstairs at The Downview pub opposite West Worthing station at 7.45pm on
Tuesday May 7. The protest march that the Tories don't want people to attend
starts from the Northbrook College entrance in Titnore Lane at 2pm on Sunday
May 26 2002.
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