A CALL-OUT for help has been made by the Camp Titnore protesters in Worthing, West Sussex, who fear an eviction attempt is likely to be made this week.
On Tuesday morning an appeal hearing is to be held into the eviction order issued by the High Court in London.
On Tuesday morning an appeal hearing is to be held into the eviction order issued by the High Court in London.
And if that is lost, it is possible the High Court bailiffs with their specialist climbing teams and cherry pickers, backed by police, could move in straight away - either later that day or early on Wednesday morning.
This suspicion was strengthened on Saturday when a police helicopter hovered over the camp for some time, clearly assessing numbers on site.
Those with experience of other sites say this usually happens a couple of days before eviction. Indeed, the helicopter also visited Camp Titnore two days before the original court hearing, on July 27, at which the starting pistol could well have been fired for eviction itself, had it not been for the unexpected leave to appeal.
The protest camp, against an 875-home development, road widening and new Tesco on green land, including ancient woodland, began on May 28.
It has attracted huge public support locally, with Worthing residents disgusted at the way Worthing Borough Council has ignored overwhelming opposition to the plan and meekly bowed down to the interests of the landowners and the property developers.
Protesters have vowed to stay in the tree camp to the bitter end, deploying "passive resistance" to the small army of hired thugs expected to be sent in against them.
Anyone who can help is urged to get down to the camp in time for the possible eviction. Exact dates are not likely to be provided in advance by the authorities!
This suspicion was strengthened on Saturday when a police helicopter hovered over the camp for some time, clearly assessing numbers on site.
Those with experience of other sites say this usually happens a couple of days before eviction. Indeed, the helicopter also visited Camp Titnore two days before the original court hearing, on July 27, at which the starting pistol could well have been fired for eviction itself, had it not been for the unexpected leave to appeal.
The protest camp, against an 875-home development, road widening and new Tesco on green land, including ancient woodland, began on May 28.
It has attracted huge public support locally, with Worthing residents disgusted at the way Worthing Borough Council has ignored overwhelming opposition to the plan and meekly bowed down to the interests of the landowners and the property developers.
Protesters have vowed to stay in the tree camp to the bitter end, deploying "passive resistance" to the small army of hired thugs expected to be sent in against them.
Anyone who can help is urged to get down to the camp in time for the possible eviction. Exact dates are not likely to be provided in advance by the authorities!
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Film screening
27.08.2006 14:26
I can relate to the opposition to the development at Titnore Lane. I went to
Northbrook College at Durrington and drove down that road every day for 2
years.
Over the last 5 years I have been involved in campaigns to save ancient
forests in Tasmania and California.
In 2004 I was involved with The Wilderness Society and Greenpeace in the
Styx Valley, Tasmania, Australia. They set up the world’s tallest treesit.
In an 84 metre high tree the 3 level platform was erected 65 metres off the
ground. Higher than a 30 story building. For one month I lived up there
making a film The Stxy Valley of the Giants. This treesit was a phenomenal
success and drew pop stars, politicians, celebrities and activists from all
around the world. The Global Rescue Station as it was called showed the
plight of ancient forests all around the world and through the actions taken
has now been saved.
I have also been involved with the treesits and media in California. There
the giant 2000-year-old Redwoods who also tower over 80 metres are also
being cut down. Although there is only 5%left of these ancient trees mans
greed knows no limits.
Unfortunately most peoples ignorance is that they believe you can cut down a
forest and replant it and within a few years it will all grow back just as
before, this is a total myth. A primordial, ancient forest has developed
since the beginning of time. Here in Titnore Lane microscopic organisms and
funguses have adapted to this environment and won’t be found anywhere in the
world apart from Worthing. IF the destruction continues of this last
remaining woodland not only the trees and the creatures that live there will
be destroyed but also the abundance of life that has adapted and is crucial
for the biodiversity that is unseen to most peoples eyes.
Saving Titnore Lane is not just about the few big trees, because in my eyes
they are not even very big or old but it is the entire ecosystem that will
be destroyed, lost for ever, never to be replaced.
There will be a meeting held on Thursday 31st August at 8pm at the Rest,
Bath Place, Worthing. We will be discussing the issue of Titnore Lane and
what now can be done to save it. I will also be showing the half-hour film
Styx Valley of the Giants. Those interested in seeing what life is like
living in the treetops, the campaign, demonstrations and the current law
case where 20 people are being sued by the logging giant Gunns, come and see
the film and learn what you can do in your local area to protect some of the
Earth’s last remaining ancient woodlands.
Like the famous North American Indians letter to the White House that
states…
Only when the last tree has died
And the last river been poisoned
And the last fish been caught
Will we realise
We cannot eat money
Nicola