WHEN Titnore Woods landowner Fitzroy Somerset is forced to admit that a "great victory" has been notched up by campaigners (Argus, September 21), you know that something has gone right. And the announcement from Worthing Borough Council that Titnore Lane in Durrington itself "would not have to" be straightened and 210 trees "should be" spared was certainly a piece of good news.

It is a testament to the amazing efforts that have been put into this unprecedented battle by a huge range of people - the tree campers and their supporters of course, the Worthing Society with its threat of legal action against the council and most of of all the hundreds, if not thousands, of local people who have played their part by writing letters, joining protests, giving donations and generally making it abundantly clear that they are right behind the campers and totally against the development.

However, the fight is clearly not won yet, even though Mr Somerset, the council and the developers would now like everyone to go home so they can get on with the serious business of destroying the countryside in the interests of profit. Even if the news on Titnore Lane is confirmed - and time will tell on that one - there is still a lot to be concerned about and to be struggling against.

The most obvious problem is that even though Titnore Lane may not be straightened, it is still planned to drive an access road from there onto the proposed 875-home housing estate. This would cut right through the heart of the woodland that the tree campers are protecting. Since that is why they set up there in the first place, they see no reason why the council's half-hearted climb-down should make them pack up and make way for the bulldozers.

Said one campaigner: "The access road would damage precious eco-systems and destroy the habitat of various protected species, including newts and dormice. At the end of the day, building roads through woods, and dumping massive housing estates right next to them, amounts to much the same as chopping down the whole woods."

If the council and their developer chums thought that a change of heart over the road straightening would take the steam out of the opposition, they were wrong! All it has done is to show people that the pressure is paying off and that their efforts have not been wasted.

One more push could halt the access road and another couple after that could stop the whole porkin' development!

You can help keep up the pressure on Saturday October 7, when people will be gathering at 2pm outside Durrington railway station for a mass walk to Titnore Woods, calling for the access road to be scrapped and expressing their support and thanks to the tree protesters. Bring your friends and family!

Camp phone: 0780 4245324.

Mass walk to Titnore Woods

2pm, Saturday October 7

Durrington railway station