Latest news with #WorthingBoroughCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Worthing community groups urged to check grant eligibility
Community groups and organisations are being urged to find out if their projects are eligible for council message from Worthing Borough Council comes as the authority reopens its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Neighbourhood for up to £5,000 from the pot of £145,000 will open in September, but groups are being invited to express their interest fund is made up of a proportion of the payments collected from developers building in the area so the impact felt by residents can be offset. The council is looking for projects that provide direct benefits to the community and environment and also build "inclusive and connected" workshops are being held across the borough so groups can find out more about the than £200,000 was given to community groups through the CIL Neighbourhood Fund in 2024.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Man's outrage as multi-storey car park's lights left on despite closure
A man said it is 'outrageous' that lights at a seafront car park are left on despite its closure. Grafton car park on Worthing seafront was closed on May 16 after Worthing Borough Council reported 'falling concrete'. It said that it would be carrying out an 'urgent investigation' into the condition of the structure, which is more than 60 years old. John Hill, from Sompting, regularly drives past the car park and noticed the lights were still left switched on. The 74-year-old has raised concerns that it is wasting council money and says they should be switched off. Mr Hill said: 'It's like Blackpool illuminations. 'Every single light is burning. 'With all the cut backs the council is having to make at the minute, it's an absolute disgrace. 'They're on during the day and at night. 'It's outrageous. It must be costing thousands of pounds.' The council recently reassured the public that the connected shops and bowling alley are safe to stay open due to the structure of the building being unaffected. Worthing Borough Council has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Music venue owner says town centre works are 'destroying' his business
A music venue owner says works in a town centre are 'destroying' his business. Howard Kirk owns The Venue, a live music hall and television production facility in Chapel Road, Worthing. Outside the building, Hemiko, an investor, developer, and operator of heat networks, is carrying out works to implement a sustainable network in the town. Mr Kirk has reported that the works are disrupting the day-to-day running of the venue, with no concerts being held this year. He said: 'It has almost destroyed the business. 'Any artists in tour buses or that have trucks are totally out of the question. 'We were down 60 per cent on our music shows thanks to the works and the actions of Worthing Borough Council and we are 100 per cent down on our filming, which is down to access, noise from the works and actions of Worthing Borough Council. Hemiko working on the new heat network outside High Street car park (Image: Sussex News and Pictures) 'They are preventing us from using our building, they have destroyed our business and reputation and robbed us of our livelihood.' Mr Kirk also reported car parking challenges impacting customers, who were previously able to use a car park in Stoke Abbott Road, which is now a medical centre. Grafton multi-storey car park on Worthing seafront was also closed last week due to 'concrete failing'. 'The car park situation is crazy, and again has an impact on us', he said. 'The car park spaces available with the works are next to nothing and to be shared with the Assembly Halls.' A number of other businesses in Worthing town centre have reported being impacted by the works, experiencing a drop in trade and footfall. Worthing Borough Council said Hemiko is looking to speak with Mr Kirk about the issues, adding that works will be paused over the summer holidays. A spokesman said 'We're saddened to see how a number of businesses and residents have reacted to the construction of the Worthing Heat Network. 'Along with Hemiko, our partner delivering the project, we're taking any concerns extremely seriously and have arranged in-person meetings with business owners and representatives of our town centre's traders to understand their worries and, where possible, make compromises to reduce disruption. 'Hemiko also holds monthly sounding board meetings with various stakeholders across the town to provide construction updates, help increase awareness of their upcoming works and take onboard feedback. 'We're approaching the end of this phase of the project, which has unfortunately seen unavoidable disruption caused to key areas of our town centre. "We understand how challenging this has been for businesses, visitors and people living in our town centre, and can only thank everyone for their patience during this period. 'We understand that some residents and businesses are feeling frustrated at the disruption that is taking place right now, but we retain our belief that the network will play a crucial part in not only our decarbonisation journey, but that of the hospital as well and supporting others across the town to connect in future. 'The project will bring sustainable heating to buildings and homes in the borough, cut the town's carbon emissions by thousands of tonnes of year and create hundreds of jobs, with Hemiko expecting to have created up to 500 jobs by 2050.' Hemiko was approached for comment. The first phase of the Worthing heat network is expected to be completed by 2026.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Worthing's Grafton car park closed due to unstable concrete
Specialist engineers will investigate a council multi-storey car park which was forced to close last week due to unstable multi-storey car park in Worthing remains closed after the borough council said recent inspections raised safety concerns about the building.A council spokesperson said urgent investigation works would now be undertaken to decide the future of the Marine Parade town's Business Improvement District (Bid) added it was "deeply concerned about the impact this will have when combined with roadworks and other parking issues". The multi-storey car park, which is more than 60 years old, was first closed last Friday after some of the concrete inside the car park was found to be "in a poorer condition than expected". The council added: "Public safety is our priority so we have immediately closed the whole car park to prevent there being any potential risk to people using it."Over 400 parking spaces will be lost in Worthing as a result of the such as the Hollywood Bowl bowling alley remain open despite the closure.A Bid spokesperson added that it understood "the disappointment and concern this will cause for local businesses and residents" and "remains committed to supporting our business community in every way we can".In November 2023, Worthing Borough Council announced plans to sell and demolish Grafton car park, a move which had first been mooted in residents of Worthing told BBC Radio Sussex the building was "ugly", an "eyesore", and a "monstrosity".
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Goring-by-Sea sandpit site owner to sell land after 'abuse'
A man building on a West Sussex field despite being denied planning consent says he now wants to sell the Dixon previously said he would turn the coastal site in Goring-by-Sea into a recreation area with a sandpit, boules pitch and bar Borough Council denied his planning application in 2024 and the Planning Inspectorate upheld the council's decision after Mr Dixon said on Friday he will sell the Marine Drive site after receiving "abuse" online for starting work at the site. Mr Dixon said: "There's been too much criticism. The stuff they say about me is rude, as if I'm just some money grabbing property developer."My kids and my wife see it so I just thought I'd let someone else take the abuse."I was trying to do something that was community based." Mr Dixon announced plans in 2024 to create a "fenced family entertainment area" focused around the began at the site in Borough Council previously said it rejected the plans because it had not received enough detail to prove that "use and operations described in the application would be or are lawful".James and James Estate Agents said it would bring the site to market "soon".Mr Dixon will not try again to obtain planning permission to develop the site and the land will be sold as is, the agency says.
