Save Titnore Woods

"Clearly with so many outstanding issues it would be premature to recommend to those camped in the woods to protect them, to end their occupation".

Sat up a tree once myself, small tree...but it helped stop Tesco's from gobbling up Golden Hill for a little longer....we did trolley runs as a protest when they built it finally and I got told that I was banned from all Tesco stores for life.


Hi Derek

Please could you support our campaign in anyway possible..

www.protectourwoodland.co.uk

I am a fully paid up member of UK Green Party

love & solidarity

Chris Tomlinson

Protect Our Woodland

Press Release for Immediate Release 23.09.06

Following the West Sussex County Council's Press Release 997 (1) John Clark on behalf of Protect Our Woodland said: "We are delighted that the County Council have acknowledged how important to local people the woodland along Titnore Lane is by now recommending that the bends should not be straightened opposite South Lodge. The result of that means the most sensitive part of the woodland eco-system will not be destroyed by a new section of road".

"However we feel WSCC have missed a golden opportunity by failing to announce that the present speed limit of 60 mph will be reduced, or that there will be a ban on HGV's. Clearly there was some initial confusion over the status of the Lane, but with WSCC acknowledging that the A grade designation given to the Lane following completion of the flyover at Patching Pond was only a 'paper exercise' and that designation could only come into force after the Lane was brought up to A grade standard - i.e. the bends straightened and sight distances improved - there appears to be no reason why the limit can not be reduced now".

"Naturally we support WSCC in their desire to prevent accidents along Titnore Lane, and it is for that reason we can not understand why they still allow HGV's to use the Lane and not route them down the Angmering bypass as originally attended. It is also a mystery why they haven't insisted that the Highway's Agency remove the incorrect Titnore Lane A2700 signage from the
A27".

"Clearly with so many outstanding issues it would be premature to recommend to those camped in the woods to protect them, to end their occupation".
ENDS.

Notes:

(1) NEWS FROM WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

PR 997

20/09/2006 For Immediate Release

Titnore Lane Change Will Save More Than 200 Trees

More than 200 trees could be saved in the Titnore Lane area of West
Durrington because West Sussex County Council is taking advantage of
national changes, and is no longer insisting that a bend is straightened and
a roundabout built to serve a proposed housing development.

The move follows the publication of new draft guidelines on highway
improvements issued by the Department for Transport.

The national changes, proposed in what is known as the 'Manual For Streets',
could mean that there is no engineering work to Titnore Lane other than a
right turn lane into the housing development.

This would mean that around 210 trees would not need to be removed to make
way for a bend straightening scheme and roundabout.

The County Council has this week advised Worthing Borough Council - which
has approved the planning application for housing at West Durrington - of
the impact of the new draft guidance on proposals for Titnore Lane.

Lieutenant Colonel Tex Pemberton, West Sussex Cabinet Member for Highways
and Transport, said: "The County Council's position on Titnore Lane has
always been very clear - we have consistently said that we want to minimise
the impact on the environment without compromising road safety.

"We had already approved a revised scheme which would have meant the loss of
around 210 trees compared with an original estimate of 380 or more.

"In layman's terms, this new draft guidance from the DfT covers issues such
as a reduction in the requirement for stopping sight distances, and that
these need not be as long as previously specified

"My highways experts have looked at this draft guidance as it relates to
Titnore Lane, and have advised me that we are able to review the need, at
this stage, to require the developers to carry out bend straightening."

Colonel Pemberton said the review of the scheme had only been brought about
because of the reduced stopping sight distances that are being proposed in
the new national guidance.

He added: "I am completely satisfied that prior to this draft guidance being
issued we were right to insist on bend straightening.

"The fact that this may not now prove necessary is naturally good news for
people concerned about the environment of the Titnore Lane area, which has
always been an issue of concern to the County Council.

"The new guidance means that a significant number of trees can be saved.

"However, if the housing development goes ahead with the revised road
lay-out, we will monitor its use extremely carefully."