Titnore protesters target developer

A group of opponents to the proposed 875-home scheme visited the Crawley offices of Taylor Woodrow on Friday June 16, unfurling a banner declaring "Hands Off Titnore Woods!".

The construction firm is one of three, alongside Persimmon Homes and Heron Land Management, in a consortium planning the estate.

The group also presented staff at the London Road offices with a letter to Taylor Woodrow's chief executive, Iain Napier, urging him to pull out of the project.

A spokesman for the protesters said: "We want to make the people behind this destructive scheme fully aware of the strength of feeling about Titnore Woods among Worthing people.

"It hasn't all been finalised yet and Taylor Woodrow still have a chance to avoid a lot of conflict, cost and ill feeling by abandoning their ill-conceived plans."

The letter delivered to Mr Napier stated: "You should know that the protesters are very determined and also very well connected. Do not expect opposition to the development to simply melt away, under any circumstances. It is, in fact, likely to intensify.

"In light of this, we feel you may consider it would suit your company's interests to withdraw your involvement in the proposed development.

"In terms of spiralling costs, inconvenience and sheer bad publicity for Taylor Woodrow, we would suggest that continued collaboration with this hugely destructive and unpopular scheme would be a dramatic own goal for your business."

Contacted after the protest, Taylor Woodrow said only that they had received the letter and would pass it to their chief executive.

The Camp Titnore tree protest was set up at dawn on Sunday May 28 in the threatened woodland off Titnore Lane, Durrington, Worthing.

The eco-protesters have built a network of tree houses and say they are determined to stay on the site and prevent work from going ahead.