Direct Action + Environment

Despite the miserable weather the camp has been in festive mood thanks to the generosity of all those who have donated so much in every way. Even on Christmas day there was a steady stream of visitors with mulled wine, mince pies etc and good wishes.

New campers have been arriving over the last few weeks, allowing some of those who have been on site since May to take a well earned break. As the new year approaches thoughts are returning to the threat of eviction. Although we've been surprised no attempt has been made so far, we know it could happen at any time. However we are always ready to defend the camp / our home and feel secure in the knowledge supporters on the nearby estates will help us.

Several trips were made to the camp over the weekend to deliver all the gifts that have been so generously donated this week by local supporters at the table near Woolworth's on Saturday and at the delivery points from those in far away places. Clearly the protectors at the camp were overwhelmed by the generosity as we all have been. From everyone involved in the campaign we send the biggest thank you possible to you all.

We might just add that if anyone feels like a walk over the festive holiday the campers will be pleased to see you, thank you personally and give you a tour of the camp. Remember to wear your wellies!

Old friends have returned to the camp this week after visiting other parts of the country threatened with similar destruction of the countryside (so much for the Stern and Eddington reports). And now we have the very worrying Baker report.

Despite the horrendous weather and several trees blown down in last nights storm all the houses are intact, everyone is safe and it's business as usual. Support for the camp is as strong as ever with a steady stream of visitors from far and near (thanks to Lunar, Nicky and friends for everything). Which reminds me. We do try and thank everyone who gives so generously to support the camp but if we have missed you please accept this as a big thank you and we promise your donation has been put to the best of causes.

Following the rejection of the request to Ruth Kelly (The Minister for Communities...!!) to hold a Public Inquiry into the Titnore Gate Scandal we have been lost for polite words. However we feel the scribes at Worthing's (first with the news that matters) Porkbolter newsletter reflect the mood:

WORTHING people are still not to be allowed to challenge the West
Durrington development at a public inquiry, it has been revealed. A
letter from local groups calling for the Government to hold an inquiry,
passed on to Ruth Kelly by local MP Peter Bottomley, has met with a flat
'no' from Whitehall. The news was not exactly unexpected, but still
reinforces the lack of democratic scrutiny in the whole disastrous scheme.

However, there is still likely to be a considerable delay in any work
actually starting on the development. Following the news that Titnore
Lane should not now have to be straightened, Worthing Borough Council
has asked the developers to prepare an amended planning application,
without the alterations to Titnore Lane and with a T junction instead of
the roundabout at the entrance to the estate. The revised planning
application has to be prepared, as do the revised ecological assessment
and the revised Section 106 agreement. After they have all been agreed,
the full planning application still has to be considered. Said one
campaigner: "I should be surprised if any construction is done in less
than a year from now."

With this in mind, the campers are digging in for the long haul (both
metaphorically and literally!). They badly need food, clothing/blankets
and funds to see them through the dark winter months. Parcels for the
camp can be left at Down to Earth health food shop in Montague Street,
Worthing (west end), as well as taken to the camp. The initiative by Rob
Newman to donate money from DVD sales (see www.robnewman.com) has
already proved a success, with an excellent initial response, we are
told. With the annual feast of consumer extravagance fast approaching,
Worthing people are being urged to remember the people who are prepared
to live up a tree all winter to save our environment! Let's make it a
Merry Christmas for the stalwarts at Camp Titnore!

If you have any ideas for raising funds or collecting donations of any
kind, please get in touch, either with us here or with POW at
info@protectourwoodland.co.uk.

THE PORKBOLTER is an independent newsletter for Worthing dedicated to
resurrecting the corpse of democracy in this town. To get the next six
issues through the post send a donation of £3 or more payable to The
Porkbolter at PO Box 4144, Worthing BN14 7NZ.. Free e-mail subscriptions
are also available. Send e-mail to porkbolter@eco-action.org.

We are very pleased to let you know that Dame Anita Roddick (founder of the Body Shop) has kindly agreed for us to use her name in any of our materials as a supporter of the campaign to save Titnore Woods.

The announcement made to day by worthing eco-action - one of the groups campaigning to save Titnore Woods – in an e-mail to them, follows discussions between Dame Anita and one for our supporters, a friend of hers.

Commenting on this excellent news, John Clark for Protect Our Woodland said: “We are most grateful to Dame Anita for allowing us to use her name. To have the support of such a respected person we could only have dreamt of when we started this campaign. Now nearly 5 years on we go from strength to strength. From a few local residents with the cheek to stand up and say no to planning authorities and multimillion-pound multinational land developers, the campaign has featured on TV screens and newspapers throughout the UK and beyond. No doubt with the arrival of the 2 groups of movie makers on Saturday its Hollywood next”.

Also received today from worthing eco-action is the report on Saturdays (October 7, 2006) walk to the Woods.

YESTERDAY'S mass protest walk saw 100 or so people stride up from
Durrington station to Camp Titnore, where they were greeted with guided
tours of the two tree camp protest sites and invited to take part in
workshops throughout the afternoon.
The march set off promptly at around 2.15pm (too promptly for some
latecomers!), following a press photocall and headed up the road from
the station forecourt to The Strand, where it turned left through the
Maybridge estate. It then turned right up Limbrick Lane, to the junction
with Palatine Road, then crossed the Littlehampton Road and headed up
Yeoman Road and on through the West Durrington estate to Varey Road,
Fulbeck Avenue and the Titnore site.
The sun was shining and there were many toots and thumbs-up of support
en route. The positive mood was enhanced by the fact that the police
left the protest completely alone. Maybe they have at last got the
message that these are invariably peaceful affairs and that local people
expressing their opinions on local matters do not need to be treated
like hooligans or criminals...
Overall, the message is that the campers and supporters have not been
fooled by Worthing and West Sussex councils' half-hearted suggestion
that the road straightening "may" not now take place and are continuing
to oppose the access road through the woods, which the authorities never
mention, and of course the whole environment-wrecking development.

* Meanwhile, the fight to save Titnore Woods has received a boost with
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, declaring her support for the
campaign in a message to protesters.

The High Court in London has granted possession of land being used by the protectors of Titnore wood to the Somerset family. However the Court has given leave for the protectors to appeal and ordered that no action should be taken to remove them for 14 day's.

Worthing Borough Council has today been threatened with a Judicial Review - possibly in the High Court - that would be based on the decision of the Development Control Committee to recommend the approval of alterations to Titnore Lane, as part of its decision to grant outline planning permission for the development at West Durrington. The council have been told that the evidence submitted to their Development Control Committee, and presented at its meeting on March 28^th, was defective in five main areas.

Barristers acting for the claimant, The Worthing Society, have stated that if legal proceedings are required, a quashing order will be sought from the Court quashing the grant of planning permission WB/04/00040/OUT together with an order for costs.

Confusion at the High Court as the Somerset family are unable to prove ownership of the land they say they want to claim possession of. Court has adjourned for lunch.

As many of you will all ready know, we have been served with papers to appear at a hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL. At the hearing Thursday, 27 July starting at 11.30 prompt the Somerset family will attempt to convince the court our home is on land belonging to them.

This of course is a court the public are allowed to attend and we cordially invite you to see democracy in action.

Some of you on the other hand might like to make your way to the camp before 11am, to ensure it's peaceful and tranquil there.

POLICE today Monday July 24 and last Wednesday July 19 illegally invaded the Titnore Woods protest camp at Durrington.

Uniformed officers entered the squatted area of woodland, despite each being individually warned by the protesters that to do so would be trespass. They then moved all around the site of the peaceful eco-camp with video cameras, filming protesters' homes and the tree defences they have been putting together.

Court papers have now been served on the campers by the landowners, yet an eviction order has still to be granted so the protest site remains completely legal. Fears have now been raised that police are gathering intelligence for an illegal eviction of the site, before the proper court process.

Said one of the campers: "We have been getting on well with the local police and we cannot believe what's happened. They just barged their way in. We have put in an official complaint."
The local police visiting the open day at the camp on Saturday told protesters that they regarded them as part of the Durrington community.

Is this how Sussex Police normally treat the local community, then - forcing their way into their homes with neither permission nor a search warrant?

A report and video can be seen on:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/southcoast/2006/07/345461.html

Camp open day

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345266.html

And now Titnore the Movie. Yes for those of you who have access to broadband you can download your very own copy - in about 5 -10 minutes - of this exclusive from: http://www.schnews.org.uk/schmovies/battle-for-titnore-woods.mpg It is possible to download via a dial up connection but as the file size is over 50meg it will take several hours in that case.

More see: click

Just a reminder that the Titnore Tree Top Campers (No 1 Titnore Woods) have
issued an invitation to join them at an open day at the camp on Saturday
July 15. Everyone is invited to meet at the far end of Tesco's car park (by
the community centre) at 12 noon. to be guided to the camp.

It's suggested everyone wear long trousers and strong shoes suitable for
walking a mile or so through long grass / over rough ground. Once at the
camp your hosts will talk about bender making, camp cookery and other
practical skills, as well as a talk on anarchism, the philosophical basis of
the direct action movement.

For those arriving after 12 noon or need detailed directions follow this
link www.protectourwoodland.co.uk/tea.htm. If you get lost Just phone 0780
4245324.

Titnore Tree-Top Camp News Flash.

Protestors Alert Authorities.

In a dramatic turn of events, the protestors who are occupying ancient woodland off Titnore lane Worthing in defiance of an order to leave by the landowner, have alerted him, the police and fire brigade when they saw flames coming from a nearby fishing lodge on the land owned by the Somerset family. It is this land and ancient woodland, that will see a massive housing estate built on it, which the Somerset's are reported to be selling for over £70Million.

Said one of the protestors who set up the tree top camp in a daring 6am action on Sunday May 28: "We had noticed some people larking about near the lake and decided to keep an eye on them. It wasn't long before flames could be seen and we immediately phoned for the police and fire brigade. As we knew they wouldn't be able to get to the fire easily because the gate to the lodge was locked and some farm machinery had been placed across the driveway to prevent travellers gaining access to the lake, one of us ran to the landowners house and alerted him so the access could be made clear for the authorities".
END.

See www.protectourwoodland.co.uk for all the background to this occupation.

The camp can be phoned on 0780 4245324 for an eye witness account / interview.

Because of an unfortunate double booking at the Friends Meeting House, the venue of the public meeting on Titnore Woods has now been changed. It will be held in the function room of the Charles Dickens in Heene Road Worthing, (Sea end near the petrol station) with the start put back to 8pm to allow people to be redirected from the original venue, if necessary. This is an excellent venue, where teas and coffees will on sale as well as drinks from the bar.

As this is an open public meeting we welcome Peter Bottomley M.P. for Worthing West, Borough councillors for the Northbrook Ward, development control committee members, in-fact anyone with an interest in the history of Titnore lane, the Ancient woodland, the ecology, Castle Goring and the intended development that threatens to seriously impact on it. Speakers include local historian Chris Hare and Chris Todd from the South Downs Campaign.

So that's 8pm at the Charles Dickens, Heene Road, Worthing, on Thursday July 6.

It might sound to good to be true but our happy campers are offering a free holiday in one of the most beautiful parts of the Sussex countryside.

Set in Ancient Woodland close to the designated South Downs National Park and only 2miles from the golden sands of Goring-by Sea beach who could wish for more. All they ask in return is the pleasure of good company, humour and a little help in order to defend this wonderful area from the developers.

We have had the pleasure of welcoming guests from Portugal and beyond this week as the campaign goes from strength to strength. The extra hands has enabled the production of tree houses and other defenses to be speeded up.

All this activity has taken its toll on foot ware and there is an urgent need for donations of strong boots. While mentioning donations, please don't scrap your old video cameras. We need them and can repair them as necessary. Click for contact details.

There is a provisional date of Friday July 21st for the screening of the film made about us by the Tonight with Trevor McDonald programme. But keep checking the listings.

A meeting has been arranged for Thursday July 6 at the Friends Meeting House, Rear of 34 Mill Road, Worthing at 7.30pm (Between West Ave and Grand Ave) for all those who want to know more about the history of Titnore lane, the Ancient woodland, the ecology, Castle Goring and the intended development that threatens to seriously impact on it.

Although this is very short notice, those who have arranged it hope you will be able to attend and join in the accompanying debate.

ARE landowners the Somerset's resorting to dirty tricks to try and force
the protesters out of the woods? The Argus reports today (June 21) they
were trying to blame the campers for a digger being driven into a pond
some distance from the camp. Needless to say, the camp knows nothing of
this incident and would hardly set about polluting the environment it is
there to protect! This was obviously clear to Sussex Police, who told
the paper: "The finger has been pointed at the protesters, but if they
are environmentalists it seems unlikely they would want to do that."

A report in local newspaper The Worthing Guardian at the weekend quoted
Worthing Council's assistant director of planning James Appleton as
saying final outline permission for the development was "two to three
weeks away", with an agreement envisaged between landowners, council and
developers.

TONIGHT mystery surrounds the future of planned development that would see the destruction of part of ancient woodland and the loss of a massive area of Greenfield’s and hedgerow off Titnore lane Worthing.

In the front page story, the Worthing, Littlehampton, Lancing & Shoreham Advertiser tells it’s readers that Lt Col Tex Pemberton, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport has received a two page letter from roads minister Dr Stephen Ladyman basically saying that work to cope with grid lock on the A27 was held up.

The advertiser goes on to report that the cabinet member for highways and transport said: “We have also made it clear to the government that an improved A27 is a vital part of the infrastructure that will be needed to support the extra house building that it’s policies are seeking to impose on West Sussex. With out the infrastructure, we could not support the Development.”

That’s ok then, we can dismantle the camp and go home. No Way, we’ve got used to Tex and his craving for more and more roads across the countryside. This is just another ploy of his to get the taxpayer to pay for his Carmageddon.

It might sound to good to be true but our happy campers are offering a
free holiday in one of the most beautiful parts of the Sussex countryside.

Set in Ancient Woodland close to the designated South Downs National Park
and only 2miles from the golden sands of Goring-by Sea beach who could wish
for more. All they ask in return is the pleasure of good company, humour and a
little help in order to defend this wonderful area from the developers.
Need to know more? Phone reservations on: 0780 4245324

At the camp, tree house building is carrying on at a pace as more timber and rope arrive. Construction is nearly complete on one platform nearly that's 80 foot above ground together with a rope walkway linking another platform.

Youngsters from the nearby houses are regular visitors and are eager to learn woodworking and survival skills. As one said We're not bored here as there's always something to do. I was fed up hanging around Tesco's.

We have had a report that residents living north of the camp site (Nr Castle Goring) are having visitors to the camp requesting directions late in the evening. PLEASE do not do this. Instead either phone the camp (0780 4245324) or copy these directions click

Sorry we haven't updated this week but things have been a bit hectic what with all the National press attention following the support given to us by Green MEP Caroline Lucas (click) More detail of what we've been up to tomorrow.

Tree house building is making good progress with two more ready for occupation. Two film crews have been on site. One from the ‘Tonight with Trevor McDonald’ national ITV programme, spent the day filming an update to the previous filming that was done for the original programme shown late last year. Watch this space for date of screening.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Work has been going on frantically all week extending the camp. A two story tree house has now been built near the original entrance to the camp and visitors are redirected to a new entrance to the south. A new site for a camp has been looked at and a decision whether to build will be taken soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Kitchen has now been built and there's a full larder. Work is to start soon on tree houses in another area identified as a likely spot for the access road. Good wishes continue to arrive from all over the place and more local resident have come along during the weekend to support us, say hello and bring essentials. However more straw is needed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANOTHER busy day building tree houses and benders. Local residents have been marvelous bringing food, water, rope, timber and the 101 things we need. No sign at present of any action to evict us, but we are well prepared for that. We have seen all the Press coverage (even the piece from the USA and the Daily Telegraph) and have been encouraged by how positive it all has been. Is everyone at last waking up to the damage the human race is doing to this Planet, our temporary home.

Well done with the camp. It's a weird one, I've been aware of the campaign for sometime now and done the usual signing of petitions etc. But I haven't been there. I've actually been examining my thoughts and actions on it for a little while. I know that I'm in avoidance. I was involved with the Newbury Bypass for maybe five years, from the early lobbying and then non-violent direct actions at the end. It was a very bruising time and I can go there in my mind oh so quickly. The memories make me very angry and sad at once.

I spend most of my waking hours thinking about what is happening to our world and in a way what we're doing here in the UK is the most horrible ...for the sake of fucking supermarkets and money.

A memory just came to me that sums it up. It was towards the end of the campaign and most of the protesters had been 'bailed off' the site. This morning there was probably no more than twenty of us surrounded by a couple of hundred guards and police. The story wasn't news anymore and without the press around the security acted with impunity. One particularly nasty female guard was urging her subordinates to get tough on the 'fucking hippies' and protesters were getting dragged out by their hair and being kicked in the process. It was a horrible mess and we broke for the nearby road. I was dazed and stepped out into the traffic jam created by the convoy of police vans. A high hedge had separated us from the people waiting in their cars, going to work, completely unaware of what was happening just feet away. To them I probably looked like any of the crusties portrayed on the news. As I walked I surveyed the occupants mainly avoiding eye contact, a blonde girl checked her lipstick and examined her split ends. I wanted them to know what was happening and I feel like I've been trying to show the people in the cars the other side of the hedge ever since.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11pm, Thursday June 1

PROTESTERS at the camp said this evening they were totally delighted
with the support they were receiving from local people. Please keep the
visits coming. Most needed at the moment are large beams of wood. Also
on the wish list are woodchip, sawdust, knife sharpener,
harnesses/carabiners, beelays/climbing rope, batteries, credit for camp
phone (0780 4245324), waterproof clothes, Marmite, first aid kit, herbal
tea and funnel. Financial donations can be made at the camp (ring number
above if you can't find it!) or by sending a cheque payable to "The
Porkbolter" to PO Box 4144, Worthing BN14 7NZ - they will pass on the cash
ASAP.

Support the tree camp on Saturday (June 3) from 11am in Montague Place,
Worthing town centre. Helpers needed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WORK is now speeding up at the camp after the arrival of more wood for the tree houses. The landowner has kindly made us feel more at home in the countryside by spreading manure over part of the field near us. As a mark of respect for his age 83 and his obvious need for a rest, we have decided not to bring in the 100Kw sound system.

An urgent request has gone out for several pairs of warm socks and 10 or 12mm blue polyprop rope.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

POLICE did not return during the night. The protesters are asking for people to come and bring them more tarpaulins, 10 or 12mm polyprop rope, climbing harnesses and 100mm nails. But most of all they need PEOPLE there to back them up.

There is a good report on the camp in this morning's Brighton Argus. Other media are also interested.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

QUESTIONS are being asked tonight about the relationship police have with the Somerset family, owners of land campaigners are fighting to save from developers, and those developers (see www.protectourwoodland.co.uk/crook.htm ).

In a move likely to be of public concern, police are taking the worrying step of becoming involved in a civil matter by threatening to use draconian new laws to forcefully remove the peaceful environmentalists.

Clearly Sussex police are desperate to arrest someone, and hope to get brownie points, after spectacularly failing to stop illegal immigrants escaping from Ford prison. But isn't it just typical after the massive sums spent on them all the police can nick is a soft target like a protestor up a tree.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A TREE TOP protest camp in ancient Sussex woodland is still in place this evening, despite the earlier threat of an illegal eviction.

Daring protesters have occupied part of Titnore Woods in Durrington, Worthing, in a brave bid to halt the massive planned development and road widening. They moved onto the land off Titnore Lane early on Sunday May 28 in an audacious dawn operation. The landowners, the Somerset family, turned up during the morning to tell them to leave and have already draughted in Mark Lynch of Guardian Guards security, notorious for his intimidation of peace protesters at the Brighton EDO weapons parts factory.

Luckily the protesters had already built tree house structures, meaning a quick and easy eviction was out of the question. Police also arrived at the camp during the morning and later the Sussex Police helicopter was circling the site. Locals from the nearby estate have been visiting the protesters and voicing their support. As a result, the Somerset's have been digging ditches and erecting barbed wire fences to try and keep out the supporters.

It is quite clear to most Worthing people that something had to be done to stop Worthing council and the developers getting away with this horrific development scheme, with damaging associated road widening. Having seen all the efforts by campaigners ignored by the council and the government, which refused to hold a public inquiry, some people got together and decided it was time to take action.

We urge all supporters to do what they can to back the campers - it takes a lot of guts and determination to do what they're doing. What we need is a massive show of support from the people of Worthing. Let's make it clear to the powers-that-be that while most of us can't physically be with them up there in the woods all day and night, we are with the campers in spirit!

This is our last big chance to really get across the power and size of our opposition to the development. Let's make it quite clear to the bullies in the town hall and the corporate boardrooms that it's not just a few dozen protesters they're up against - it's thousands of Worthing people determined to play our part in stopping the Titnore devastation.

* Moral support. Just popping in to say 'hello' is important.
* Practical help. Are you a dab hand with a hammer or a spade? Want to help improving, decorating or securing the camp?
* Gifts. Stuff like wood, blue rope, nails, food (preferably not meat or dairy), fresh water and so on.
* Physical support. It is still very possible that an illegal and violent eviction of the camp may be attempted. Can you spare a few hours on-site?
* Voice your support. There will probably be criticism of the protest voiced by politicians in the local media. Write to the papers to say you support the camp! Phone the local radio stations!
* Spread the word. Tell your friends, family and neighbours. Send an email to everyone in your address book! Get texting or phoning.
* Office space. The protesters are appealing for a dry indoor space in the area to use as an office - preferably with a phone line.
* Financial support. Many thanks to those who have already made a contribution - without you this would not have been possible. But there will obviously continue to be costs to be met to keep the effort going. How about organising a fundraising jumble sale or coffee morning?
* Join the camp! Got some time on your hands? No reservations are necessary. Just turn up with a sleeping bag and stay as long as you like!