Worthing
February 21st, 2022Council's response towards achieving Carbon Neutral endorsed by Department of Environment Minister
Worthing Borough Council has been praised by Conservative Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment, Rebecca Pow MP, on a visit to the town for it's wide variety of work to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The minister was met by Tim Loughton MP and Conservative Council Leader Kevin Jenkins to explore the Sussex Bay initiative. It was explained how the council has sought to become the first local authority in the UK to lease the seabed off their coast from the Queen in a pioneering project to invest in climate change measures and restore marine habitat. This move paves the way from an ambitious plan to create a Sussex Bay Marine Park along the entire county coast, east and west, to protect vital marine life, restore estuary habitat and even create a destination for eco tourism. It is seen as the 'blue mirror' to the South Downs, with all the environmental protection, tourism and potential job opportunities that could be created.
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February 16th, 2022
Work begins on new car-free Montague Place
Work to transform Montague Place into a more attractive place for shoppers and tourists has begun.Worthing Borough Council consulted with businesses and residents about its plans to use government funding to pedestrianise the road - cutting traffic pollution and creating a better place for people.
Work has begun on the site after West Sussex County Council gave approval for the road to be permanently closed to traffic.
Montague Place has been closed to traffic since June 2020 so the Council could increase social distancing between visitors in the heart of the town centre following the first lockdown, but this was only agreed as a temporary measure during the pandemic.
Now the current road surface will be raised and decorated so that the whole of Montague Place is level, making it more appealing for visitors and businesses. Extra lighting will be provided and new planters will be installed, as well as parklets - areas of seating surrounded by plants and shrubs - to make the area even more welcoming.
The Council, working with West Sussex County Council, will then ask residents and traders how they would like the area to look in the long-term, before giving the road a complete makeover. Work on giving Montague Place its permanent new look could begin in 2023.
Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Nicky Waight, said: “The proposed enhancement to Montague Place will make the area more user-friendly to pedestrians and will provide a link between Montague Street and the seafront.
“This will then be a more attractive and green space for residents, visitors and local businesses.”
The disabled parking spaces that were temporarily relocated to Marine Parade outside Marks & Spencer have now been made permanent, whilst new disabled bays have also been installed in the Montague Quarter car park. The loading bays at the seafront end of Montague Place will remain in place for business use.
There could be some slight disruption over the next eight weeks before the road fully reopens to visitors in time for Easter. The work is being paid for using Welcome Back funding, secured from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in response to supporting town centres during the pandemic.
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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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