I must answer some of the criticism levelled at Protect Our Woodlands! - the campaign set up to stop the destruction of the ancient woodlands around Titnore Lane, Durrington - in the Press by the police and one other person.

While there is anger among residents over the proposals to destroy a unique part of English countryside, the hundreds of residents who protested on Sunday, May 26, caused less trouble than one would see at a Sunday afternoon cricket match.

Yes, there were three arrests, all local people known to the campaign and not outsiders as the police are for some reason trying to make out. Can they not face the fact local people are prepared to take to the streets to express their views?

All these arrests were unnecessary, having been caused when one rain-sodden police officer overreacted when a couple of people tried to erect a banner on the A259-Titnore Lane roundabout.

This resulted in one person being brought to the ground and arrested then, similarly, a 14-year-old boy and his mother.

With regard to the criticism by the police that they were not consulted, this is unfortunately a side-effect of the increasingly draconian anti-protest laws being passed by the Government. The residents had, in fact, discussed whether or not to liaise with the police.

However, after being advised by someone with experience in these matters, it was decided - because of the catch-all threat posed by the new terrorism act and public order acts - any residents putting their name forward as contacts were likely to be subjected to unfair intimidation.

Although the police fail to mention it, there is still in this country no obligation to ask permission from the authorities to stage a protest. The right to assembly is protected under human rights legislation.

Christine Allen, newly elected Lib-Dem borough councillor for Durrington stated it would have been better to have contacted the council or given her a petition.

She will be pleased to learn that much of Durrington has objected to Worthing Borough Council over the ghastly plan and, yes, there is a petition.

It contains several thousand signatures of people who will not be voting Lib-Dem again if the West Durrington development is approved by the Lib-Dem controlled council.

-John Clark, Press contact for Protect Our Woodlands!, Worthing