Worthing town centre warden back on the beat
BUSINESSES in Worthing have forced a U-turn in the decision to sack a town centre warden.
An emergency meeting was held between the Town Centre Initiative steering committee and Worthing businesses unhappy with the termination of Piers Culpitt's contract.
A petition called "save our town centre warden" signed by 59 businesses was handed over to the committee.
Finding role
Sharon Clarke, the town centre manager, said the decision to stop the town warden role was because instead of fulfilling duties such as monitoring the town and reporting things like fly-posting, graffiti and homeless people, the wardens were being "additional security" to 20-30 of the top stores.
"There was some feedback from businesses that they were not seeing enough of the wardens."
Following the "tense" emergency meeting, the warden's contract was extended to March 31.
It was also agreed that an open meeting will be organised to allow all Worthing's levy-paying businesses the chance to air their views about his future.
Various options
Mrs Clarke added: "It is a very democratic process, opening the meeting up to every levy payer so every side can be heard, and this allows us time to look for other avenues."
Before the U-turn, the businesses had planned to club together to pay for the warden themselves – one company even offered to donate 1,600 for his wages, uniform and radio.
Tom Carmen, 44, owner of The Flower Shop in Liverpool Road, Worthing, was pleased the warden's job had been reinstated: "We're happy they've decided to go with the public belief that the warden needs to stay."
The Town Centre Initiative has employed two new "town rangers", who were intended to take over from the wardens and have more business-to- business contact.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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