On June 10, 2005 the Worthing Borough Council Development Control Committee (DCC) met in public to debate the granting of outline planning approval for the West Durrington Development plan. At that meeting evidence was given to the committee about Titnore lane, a narrow route linking the A27 with the A259 that has been designated as the main access route to the development.

During that evidence an official of West Sussex county council stated that Titnore lane was an A classification road, however that was incorrect and the official knew it at the time when he said it. He has subsequently confirmed in writing that it is still a C classification road until it can be improved.

On the basis of that and other erroneous evidence, the DCC granted outline permission.

On and about the 15 June 2005 requests by the public and conservation groups were made to the Secretary of State to hold a Public Inquiry into the Plan. on August 1st, 2005 that request was rejected. Of the reasons given was that 'Local planning authorities are normally best placed to make decisions relating to their areas and it is right that, in general, they should be free to carry out their duties responsibly, with the minimum of interference'. 

On the basis of that statement we regard that the Secretary of State was unable to make a balanced judgment. This is  because the local planning authority decision could not stand due to the false evidence it was given. We now call for examination of all this at a Public Inquiry.

John Tyler of the West Sussex Green Party Said: " Why were committee members misled?' West Sussex Green Party demands answers from Worthing Borough Council over what appears to be the scandalous feeding of misinformation by a council officer to the Development Control Committee when they met on 10 June last year to discuss the W Durrington Development, a huge housing scheme which will cause environmental devastation to the Titnore Lane area. As councillors' decision to approve this scheme was based on totally inaccurate information, it cannot be allowed to stand, and we are calling once again for a Public Inquiry when concerned members of the public will be able to see the democratic process working openly and honestly, something which seems to have been missing up to now in Worthing.

END.