A conservation group has highlighted its opposition to a seafront cycle path in Goring.

At the annual meeting of the Ilex Group at St Mary's Church Hall, chairman Dick Waller reported: "We have had significant success in protesting against the cycle path along the sea wall.

"It was originally planned work should start immediately but now Worthing Borough Council plans to start at the Lancing end and will publish a detailed report on the Goring stretch at a later date.

"We believe the existing cycle route along Marine Drive is quite adequate and that a shared-use cycle and pedestrian path along the sea wall would seriously conflict with the whole nature of the greensward."

Chris Bradley, the council's parks manager, was guest speaker at the meeting and gave a talk and slide show about Highdown Gardens.

Another success of the Ilex Group this year has been the unveiling of illustrated interpretation boards - three along Ilex Avenue and one on the seafront.

The group is concerned about a number of issues, including plans for new housing at West Durrington and the Sussex Downs becoming a national park.

Mr Waller said: "The West Durrington public inquiry ended last May and the inspector's report reached us just before Christmas.

"Together with our colleagues at Goring Residents' Association and the Worthing Society, we raised objections to the revised proposals, in particular the large roundabout access to the housing from Titnore Lane which will seriously encroach on Titnore Woods.

"A planning application will be submitted, probably in June this year, and we shall study this with care to see if they have listened to us.

"Regarding the South Downs national park, we have had some success in modifying the boundaries, which now include Highdown and down as far as the A259 Littlehampton Road and some of Titnore Woods.

"We have submitted that the park area south of the Grade II-listed Castle Goring should be included."