Popular UK seaside town unveils £7.2m makeover including water play area, beach volleyball courts and climbing wall
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A POPULAR UK seaside town has revealed its staggering £7.2 million makeover.
The transformation of the beloved holiday destination has seen the creation of a water play area, beach volleyball courts and a climbing wall.
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West Green in Littlehampton has received a huge £7.3 million makeover
Credit: Arun District Council
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The beachside destination has been turned into an exciting community hub
Credit: Arun District Council
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A water play area for children has been added to the site
Credit: Arun District Council
Like many of Britain's seaside towns, West Green in Banjo Road, Littlehampton, has struggled with dwindling footfall and high street closures.
In a bid to revive the town, a staggering £7.2 million was pumped into the area as part of the Government's Levelling Up plans.
The refurbishment of West Green has seen the creation of a water play area, as well new courts for volleyball, basketball courts and petanque.
A climbing wall has also been installed in the area for children to enjoy.
Meanwhile, food and drink kiosks have been set up in West Green with four local businesses set to provide refreshments.
Bentleys Cafe, Jim's Ice Cream, Soul Kitchen & Bar and the Board Cafe will all be providing refreshments on-site.
Improved beach showers, pathways and seating areas, in addition to changing places for babies, have been established to make the beach more accessible.
Martin Lury, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Policy and Finance Committee, has said: "We're really pleased to have created a space that reflects what local people told us they wanted, while also making Littlehampton's seafront more inviting for visitors.
'It's a place for everyone - families, young people, and older residents - to enjoy throughout the year.
'I'm proud of what's been achieved and look forward to seeing the community making the most of The West Green."
Europe's Biggest Pleasure Pier is in the UK
The government minister for local growth added that the development will help to boost the tourist destination's local economy.
Alex Norris, government minister for local growth, said: "The West Green will be a brilliant asset for residents and a real draw for visitors, boosting the local economy whilst creating a space everyone can enjoy."
The news comes after plans to build 4000 homes in North Yorkshire got the greenlight from the local authority.
Maltkin, a proposed new town between York and Harrogate, will sit on a 300 acre site and be built around local amenities including primary schools and sports hubs.
Mark Crane, North Yorkshire Council's executive member for open to business, said: "This important decision allows us to continue progressing plans to provide much needed new homes and support services in the central part of North Yorkshire.
"Developments like Maltkiln are, therefore, hugely important in addressing our housing needs and providing sustainable communities for people to call home."
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It examines how easing these restrictions, streamlining payment processes, and adopting digital solutions could foster economic growth, strengthen financial systems, and attract greater global investment. By shifting toward a more balanced approach, Bangladesh can leverage its remittance potential more effectively while facilitating smoother cross-border payments for businesses and individuals alike. Why Outbound Payments Matter Individuals and small businesses in Bangladesh have legitimate reasons to send money abroad, including: Small Trade and Business Payments: SMEs and individual traders often import goods directly from suppliers in markets like China, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In FY 2024–25, imports reached USD 64.4 billion, with small trade payments making up an increasing share. Without efficient banking channels, many turn to informal systems to keep operations running. Digital Services and Software: Local IT companies and freelancers regularly purchase software, cloud tools, online courses, and other digital services from international providers. Without smooth outbound payments, these businesses struggle to stay competitive. Tuition Payments: In 2024, around 60,000 Bangladeshi students went abroad for higher education, more than double the 26,112 recorded in 2014. With an estimated 106,000 students currently studying abroad, outbound tuition payments have reached about USD 2 billion. Healthcare: According to the Daily Star (Dec 2024), approximately 350,000 Bangladeshis travel abroad annually for medical treatment, primarily to India, Thailand, and Singapore. These healthcare-related outbound flows amount to roughly USD 3 billion each year. Travel (Including Hajj & Umrah): Each year, 2 million Bangladeshis travel abroad for tourism, spending more than USD 1 billion. Additionally, 100,000 travel for Umrah and 90,000 for Hajj. 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Without efficient official channels, businesses often resort to informal networks for quicker transactions. : A small textile factory importing fabric from China could make payments smoothly through banking channels, avoiding hawala. This transparency builds trust with suppliers and ensures compliance. Without efficient official channels, businesses often resort to informal networks for quicker transactions. For Freelancers and IT Firms : Instant payments for software or cloud services enhance productivity, competitiveness, and revenue generation. Without efficient payment systems, freelancers often rely on third parties with international accounts, further fueling the informal market. : Instant payments for software or cloud services enhance productivity, competitiveness, and revenue generation. Without efficient payment systems, freelancers often rely on third parties with international accounts, further fueling the informal market. For Individuals: Students, patients, and travelers could make payments without facing delays or overpaying in the open market. For instance, parents may need to urgently send tuition or living expenses to universities abroad, and patients may need to pay for medical treatments. Ultimately, every outbound transaction conducted through official channels is one less for hawala networks, making it harder for them to operate. How Tight Outbound Controls Can Unintentionally Boost Hawala and Affect Inbound Remittances Regulators often impose strict controls on outbound payments to preserve foreign currency reserves, which are crucial for paying for urgent imports like fuel, food, and medicine. While this strategy may seem logical in the short term, it creates a chain effect that harms the economy over time. Think of Bangladesh's cross-border financial flows as two interconnected buckets—one for Taka inside Bangladesh and one for foreign currency outside. When outbound payments through legal banking channels are restricted: Outbound Demand Shifts to Hawala Networks: The unmet demand for outbound payments doesn't disappear; it simply shifts to informal channels like hawala. Students, businesses, and families still need to send money abroad. When banking channels are slow or limited, they turn to hawala. Foreign Exchange Market Distortion: Hawala creates artificial demand for foreign currency in the open market while increasing demand for Taka abroad. This creates pressure on both the local currency and the foreign exchange market. Inbound Remittances Get "Netted Off": Hawala operators balance their books by matching outbound and inbound transfers, leading to a "net-off" effect. As a result, some inbound remittances that should flow through formal channels are instead settled off the books. Banking System Loses Credibility and Reserves Stay Weak: Even if foreign reserves seem protected in the short term, reduced formal inflows mean the country ultimately loses more than it saves. The Bottom Line: Strict outbound controls can reduce formal inbound remittances because hawala "nets off" the two-way flow of money. What Easing Outbound Payments Could Look Like Create a Simple 'Personal Outward Remittance' System: Allow residents to send a modest annual amount (for education, medical expenses, small family support, subscriptions) fully digitally, using e-KYC, e-documents, and internal banking portals. Simplify Documentation: Bangladesh Bank already lists permissible categories. A one-page checklist per use case (e.g., tuition fees, hospital deposits) could streamline the process, accepting digital invoices and allowing post-verification for smaller amounts to ensure urgent payments aren't delayed. Transparent Pricing: Require banks to disclose fees and exchange rate margins upfront, aligning with G20 targets for fair and affordable remittances. Expand Beyond SWIFT: Allow banks to connect with regulated global fintech networks such as Euronet's 'Dandelion Payments', enabling faster settlement times, lower transaction costs, and greater transparency and compliance. SWIFT is crucial for big, complex payments, but retail-size transfers often move faster and cheaper through purpose-built networks that connect to bank accounts, cards and wallets with end-to-end tracking. By diversifying beyond SWIFT, Bangladesh can modernize its payment infrastructure and keep pace with global trade. Join Regional Cross-Border Payment Networks: Many countries, under government-to-government collaborations, have integrated their national payment systems. 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