Your Committee
Your Committee for the current year is:
Frank Lee (Chairman),
Natalie Cropper (Planning Advisor),
John Withnell (Treasurer),
Vernon Kitch,
Niela Bull,
Joyce Cooper,
Dick Waller,
Your Committee meets quarterly but in addition are very active from day to day, not only to protect Ilex Avenue and the trees in Sea Lane Goring, but also to counter other threats to the local environment.
Membership Subscriptions
Subscriptions to support the work of the The Ilex Group are now due. We invite existing members to renew for the current year, and welcome new members. Subscription is £1 per household. Additional donations are always welcome.
It would greatly assist us if these are paid to any of the above addresses.
If you can spare a little time to assist in our activities, nominations or volunteers for your committee will be welcomed.
Interpretation Boards
The four Interpretation Boards, three along the Ilex Avenue, and one of a different design on the sea wall, continue to attract praise. We monitor their condition and keep them in good repair.
Cycle Path along the sea wall
Work on the cycle path along the sea wall has started at the Lancing end, and we await plans for the section along the promenade. We maintain our view that in Goring 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.
The Ilex Avenue
Routine inspections are conducted by WBC tree officer Peter Whish and work will soon start in raising the crown of some of the Holm Oaks that have been allowed to bush in order that they shall grow into proper trees in the Avenue. There will also be some pruning where the growth has been allowed to intrude across the public footway; the objective is to have a tunnel of trees with a clear view from Ferring to the Mulberry.
Housing at West Durrington
Together with our colleagues at Goring Residents' Association, the Worthing Society, and the Protect Our Woods group, we raised objections to the latest outline planning application by the developers. It would appear that the developers have not taken note of the Planning Inspectors recommendations and a very large number of trees along Titnore Lane and in a clump of protected trees just north of the West Worthing Club. Decision is not likely now until the local elections in June.
The South Downs National Park
We made submissions to the Public Enquiry into the boundaries of the South Downs National Park. It will be some time before we hear the result of this.
Conservation Area Statement
Ilex Avenue is held in trust by Worthing Borough Council for the benefit and quiet enjoyment of the public in perpetuity. The part within Worthing is a Conservation Area. Arun is expected to finalise similar status in their part shortly. Trees within a conservation area must not be pruned or tampered with by the public without planning consent. The trees in Sea Lane are managed by West Sussex Council highways department
and are also protected.
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