Treetop protest

Up to 30 environmentalists began building tree houses high in the branches at Titnore and Goring woods, Durrington, near Worthing, yesterday.

They could be joined by campaigners and eco-warriors from all over the country as word of the protest spreads.

The demonstrators are determined to stop 210 trees being cut down to make way for the construction of 850 new homes on the site.

Titnore Wood is a designated Site of Nature Conservation Importance and contains oak, ash, birch and willow trees.

Demonstrators have put up notices claiming squatters' rights to an area of woodland near Somerset lake off Titnore Lane.

They insist they will have to be physically removed from their perches 30ft above the ground.

One campaigner - Toad, from Durrington - said the treetop sit-in was part of action by Protect Our Woodland to save the trees.

He said: "We have been campaigning against the development for five years but Worthing Borough Council and the Government have not listened to our objections.

"This is the final stage of our protest and we will be staying here until they physically remove us.

"This is just one camp and there will be others set up in the woodland as the protest continues.

"They will have to take court action to evict us and bailiffs will have to be brought in to remove us. It will not be easy for them because of where the site is.

"They will have to bring in cherrypickers and specialist climbers to get us down from the trees.

"It will be a peaceful protest with no violence at all, but we want to make things as difficult and expensive as possible for them."

Another protester, Lorna from Brighton, said: "We have come to protect the woodland from development and to save the trees. If we don't succeed we at least hope our action will cost the developers so much money that they will be put off doing this to other woodlands in the future.

"We would like local people to come here to talk to us about what we are doing and to give us their support."

Landowner Clem Somerset said he will try to get the protesters off the site as quickly as possible.

His family has owned the 1,700 acre estate, which stretches to Angmering and Clapham, for generations.

A digger was brought in to create earth banks to stop protesters driving vehicles along access tracks to the site.

Private security officers employed by Mr Somerset were watching activities at the camp. He said: "I am taking legal advice and will be taking court action to get them removed."

Michael Donin, a Lib Dem councillor for Worthing Borough Council's Durrington ward, said: "I have concerns about the infrastructure of the development at Titnore Lane.

"I think further studies need to be done to determine whether, given the water shortages at the moment, something of that size is sustainable.

"As far as the protesters in the woods are concerned, we all have a right to demonstrate peacefully but it should not be at the expense of breaking the law."

Members of the Protect Our Woodland group clashed with councillors and developers last year at rallies against the development.

Protesters burnt a dummy of John Prescott in Titnore Lane.

The project is a joint venture between Heron Group, Persimmon Homes and Bryant Homes, part of Taylor Woodrow.

The plans include 220 low-cost homes and developers have also promised to donate £1.2 million towards a community centre, swimming pool and library.

Police visited the site last night to check for damage.

Worthing District Commander Jason Taylor said: "The purpose of the police attendance was primarily to ensure the safety of all those present in a potentially hazardous environment and as a secondary concern to ascertain if any offences had been caused."