2:50pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
Police are on alert in case of trouble at a meeting into controversial plans for an 875-home estate.
Officials at Worthing Borough Council have spoken with Sussex Police about security at the local authority’s planning meeting at the town hall next week.
The scheme, earmarked for countryside at West Durrington in Worthing, has already sparked angry protests.
Thousands of people have objected to the creation of the new estate, with many claiming the development will be an environmental disaster, destroying precious wildlife habitat.
Since the original planning application was submitted in 2004 more than 2,000 letters and emails, plus petitions, had been submitted to the council.
Protesters have set up a camp in the ancient Titnore Woods amid fears that hundreds of trees could be felled to make way for the straightening of Titnore Lane, a winding country road.
Planning officers have substantially cut back the number that can be cut down, from 275 to 75 in a bid to quell criticism.
Developers have also vowed to plant a further 550 trees and create wildlife havens.
New leisure facilities would include a skateboard park, two playing fields including an all-weather floodlit surface and public art worth £50,000.
But conservationists fear great crested newts, badgers and dormice will be threatened by the upheaval.
There were also concerns about flooding, and noise generated by a new access road from Titnore Lane to the estate.
Many have called for the plans to be referred to the Government for further investigation.
One protester said: “Worthing is already heavily overdeveloped yet this scheme will exacerbate urban sprawl resulting in loss of habitat and wildlife, loss of food producing land, loss of one of the town’s few remaining green lungs and loss of tranquillity.”
A report to the members of the council’s planning meeting on Monday(March 15) notes: “This is a highly contentious application which has provoked considerable public opposition.”
It urges councillors to support the application. The meeting starts at 2pm.
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