Worthing unveils £8.5m investment programme
Worthing Borough Council has published plans to spend £8.5m on improving housing and buildings, sprucing up public spaces and refurbishing public toilets.
The capital investment programme includes the full refurbishment of Buckingham Road and High Street multi-storey car parks.
Playgrounds across Worthing will also receive an upgrade, with Palatine Park Play Area, Brooklands Pleasure Park and Durrington Recreation Ground all set to undergo works over the next three years.
Worthing town centre will benefit from works to enhance public spaces and improve facilities. Public toilets will also be brought up to a good standard following a comprehensive review. On the hit list will be toilets in Marine Gardens, Sea Lane Cafe Car Park, the Lido and the Pier.
The borough council is also looking to purchase temporary accommodation and bring empty properties back into use to help address the rising cost of temporary and emergency accommodation in the private sector.
Grants will also be offered to registered social landlords to help improve the supply of affordable housing.
In addition, seafront locations will be revived with new sustainable planting and landscaping schemes being introduced for Steyne Gardens and Beach House Grounds.
A new water supply system to the Splash Pad attraction will be funded as will the replacement of the timber decking on Worthing Pier.
A report to the council’s joint strategic committee said the financial climate remained tough for local authorities but they were still able to back a range of investments to improve quality of life in the borough.
‘We are pleased to set out these plans over the next three years, which will deliver investment across Worthing and demonstrate our commitment to our communities,’ said executive member for resources, Cllr Elizabeth Sparkes.
‘In the current financial climate, it is never easy to find the resources to invest but we have a sensible plan here that will deliver real benefits across a range of services for the people of this borough.’
