Local News
February 21st, 2022Green light given to transform Colonnade House
Worthing is set to benefit from a state-of-the-art digital hub that will bring a modern twist to the town’s historic Colonnade House and transform the partially derelict site.The historic four-storey Colonnade House is currently occupied by a mixture of buildings in varying states and Worthing Borough Council’s Planning Committee gave the green light to rejuvenate the area at a meeting on Wednesday, February 16th.
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February 11th, 2022
INSPECTOR BACKS COUNCIL FIGHT TO PROTECT VITAL GREEN SPACES
Efforts to protect the green spaces that border Worthing have been strengthened by the support of a government inspector, a report says.Two open spaces known as the Goring Gap to the west of the town and Brooklands in the east are considered as crucial to protect the integrity of the community and prevent urban sprawl.
The report to members of Worthing Borough Council’s Joint Strategic Committee (JSC) says initial feedback from a Local Plan Inspector has strongly indicated he accepts the argument that the sites should remain undeveloped and describes this as ‘a good news story’.
Members of the JSC heard although his final report is awaited the inspector had made a strong inference that Local Green Gap (LGG) status should be awarded to both Chatsmore Farm and the Goring-Ferring Gap and that an even stronger protection Local Green Space (LGS) should be applied at Brooklands.
The timing of the inspector’s intervention was also described as very helpful coming at the time an appeal hearing against the Council’s decision to refuse a plan by Persimmon to build 475 homes at Chatsmore, north west of Goring railway station, was being heard.
A decision on that appeal is expected later this year but the Council is hoping the Local Plan inspector’s indications will work in favour of continued refusal.
Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Cllr Kevin Jenkins, said, ‘I welcome this report and the strong indications that all our hard work to produce a robust Local Plan to both protect our vital open spaces while creating opportunities for much-needed new homes on brownfield site within our urban areas is being recognised.
‘We will continue to fight tooth and nail against any attempt to fill in these much needed open spaces and we will do so armed with the tremendous amount of work and expertise that have gone into creating this Local Plan.
‘I look forward to the council being in a position to formally adopt this Local Plan later in the year once the inspector's report is published so that we get vital protection for these green spaces.’
Despite the Council being under pressure to meet government-backed house building targets the report says the inspector has indicated he wants to see proposals to allow 60 homes to be built at Titnore Lane removed from the Local Plan. The report accepts this intervention and says the number of homes can be made up by slightly increasing density at a number of brownfield sites.
The full and final report from the inspector on the Worthing Local Plan is expected in the Spring
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February 10th, 2022
Key Worthing seafront site up for grabs this summer
A key section of Worthing’s seafront is available for rent as a tourism magnet again this summer.Since 2019, the Worthing Observation Wheel (WOW) has stood on Marine Parade between Worthing Seafront Beacon and the Coastal Office at the bottom of Montague Place during the summer months.
More than 50,000 people have taken a trip on the attraction in that time, generating funds for Worthing Borough Council to invest in public services and encouraging visitors to the town.
Now the Council is inviting entertainment businesses to bid for the chance to get in on the action by taking over the site from 1 April.
It could be used as the home for a giant wheel again, a similar style of attraction or something entirely different - it’s up to operators to come forward with ideas for what they’d like to do on the site.
Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Nicky Waight, said: “The observation wheel has been an eye-catching attraction for the town centre over the last three years. It’s generated income for the Council as well as bringing more feet to the street, helping our many independent shops and businesses to survive and thrive during the pandemic.
“Marine Parade had the WOW factor again last summer and we’re excited to see who might be interested in taking over the site to help draw in the crowds this year.”
Operators interested in taking over the site should visit the Council’s dedicated webpage for more information.
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February 9th, 2022
Councils call on communities to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Adur & Worthing Councils have earmarked nearly £50,000 to help the community and local groups celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in style.Her Majesty will be the first British monarch to reach this milestone, having acceded to the throne at the age of 25 on 6 February 1952, 70 years ago. To recognise the landmark, the Councils are planning a series of events across the region to run in tandem with those being held nationally.
Funding will come out of reserves with £20,000 from Adur District Council and £28,500 from Worthing Borough Council to pay for the community-based festivities that culminate in a four-day bank holiday from 2-5 June.
Cllr Emma Evans, Adur District Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: “The Jubilee will provide many opportunities for communities, local groups and schools to come together and share bonds, which is particularly important after the difficulties we have all endured during the last two years of the pandemic.
“Events such as street parties will provide neighbours with the opportunity to both recognise and build new friendships.”
Cllr Nicky Waight, Worthing Borough Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, added: “We are very excited about the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations and all the events that are planned around it.
“As well as bringing people together, the events will stimulate and support the visitor economy in both Adur and Worthing as we work in partnership with business groups, not to mention some of the projects based around green spaces that can enhance mental and physical wellbeing.”
The Councils’ planned events kick off on 11 March when civic heads from Adur and Worthing will plant an Old English Oak Tree to commemorate the event, with the likely sites being Beach House Park in Worthing and Buckingham Park in Shoreham.
As part of the Queen’s Green Canopy - a nationwide initiative to invite people, community groups and schools to plant trees and establish new woodland areas to enhance local biodiversity - new trees will be planted in Buckingham Park and Worthing’s Brooklands Park.
The Seafront Gallery, off Marine Parade in Worthing, is also set to commission a series of Platinum Jubilee-themed displays over the summer in the lead-up to The Queen’s official birthday on 2 June.
To honour Her Majesty’s birthday there are plans to host a dawn torch-lighting event at Highdown Gardens that could be linked to a lighting of the Beacon later.
There will also be a Jubilee concert and light show in Worthing’s Steyne Gardens with music from the past 70 years of The Queen’s reign on Friday 3 June, while the following day will be a second evening of film and music, including a Jubilee finale.
The final day of the celebrations, on Sunday 5 June, will feature The Big Lunch campaign, which aims to give communities the opportunity to come together to host street parties and celebrate. The Community Street Party application process is open until 15 April.
There are also celebratory events on Worthing promenade and at Adur Recreation Ground, as well as the Shoreham Vintage Fair. The Councils will hang Jubilee bunting and fly the Union flag during the celebrations.
For more information on how to get involved visit https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/queens-platinum-jubilee/.
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