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Thursday, 18th March 2010

Worthing town centre warden back on the beat

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Published Date: 09 February 2010
By Lara O'Reilly
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 hande
d 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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  • Last Updated: 09 February 2010 8:52 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Worthing
 
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1

Not fooled by Hazel,

09/02/2010 14:52:56
Is this the same Town Manager that was lavishing praise on the Town Wardens when they were harrassing, amongst many, people for merely taking photographs in the town centre? Has she finally cottoned on to the fact that the 'burgundy boys' have nothing to do with 'enhancing' the town centre, but are there to do the bidding of a few businesses? So if those businesses have offered to pay for the warden, then just let them pay for their own security instead. They could always get the 're-instated one' a shiny new uniform and an important looking radio of his very own...but then of course they want to 'spread the cost around' a bit, and then monopolise him! Either way, money badly spent as the wardens are all worse than useless!
2

Wheely,

10/02/2010 11:36:56
I think the public has a right to know what the role and duties are of the town warden ? At present, it looks more like misemployment at public expense.
3

Alex Kal,

11/02/2010 12:53:05
"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 public? No Tom, the businesses. As Not-fooled and Wheely ask, what exactly is the role of the town warden? If it's monitoring fly-posting, graffiti and homeless then they have surely failed!
4

Not fooled by Hazel,

11/02/2010 18:40:01
Indeed Alex Kal..

The wardens have nothing to do with the public and are a 'tool' of the business community but marketed as something different. Of course what most people don't realise is that they have no more powers than that of any member of the public. If they try and behave any other way, they are commiting an offence and maybe the venerable (lol) town manger has finally realised that the initiative she championed is a complete waste of time!

It's time to 'Axe the Wardens' and call a halt to the whole BID (Business Improvement District) idea, because it's just a ruse to 'privatise' the Town Centre..
5

worthing mum,

worthing 12/02/2010 19:59:51
these wardens looked like a bunch of nightclub bouncers.The only thing i saw them doing was chatting to security staff from boots/marks etc.If their purpose was to list graffiti/fly posting etc.Why do they need a uniform at all? Surely a note pad and pen is all that is needed.I spoke to one last yr to ask about a direction to somewhere in town and they looked at me like i was an alien.
Some brains in uniform would be good for the town,not these never ending thug look a likes.
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