Council works to address seafront parking concerns

While there are two spaces reserved for the use of concession holders on the pier, adjacent to the Pavilion Theatre and Inspired By The Sea shop, and a further space for theatre staff, other motorists have been parking there without permission.

The owner of a blue Vauxhall Astra who repeatedly parked outside the theatre has been tracked down by the council and asked to stop.

Sharon Clarke, manager Worthing Town Centre Initiative, said: “We have raised it with the council. We have asked them to look at it because we feel the promenade should be for walking.

“When you have got businesses there they have got to get deliveries and at night you have to think about theatre staff and their safety, but we think there are vehicles there when they shouldn’t be there. It’s just being lazy.”

Andrew Griffiths 49, Cranworth Road, Worthing, regularly walks along the prom every morning and evening while travelling to and from work.

He said: “The promenade is now a free for all with up to ten or more vehicles parked ad hock in designated spaces or on the beach itself. What a lovely first impression to our visitors and residents alike, a car park on the seashore.

“They don’t even have much regard for public safety. You take your safety in your own hands. Vehicles reverse with no consideration for the prom user and just keep going if your seen or not. No hazard lights on at all. We all find parking difficult but things are getting ridiculous.”

Neil Hopkins, Adur and Worthing councils’ head of communications, said the council felt that the parking situation was ‘not in the town’s best interests’.

He added that he was concerned to hear of Mr Griffiths’ experience of vehicles moving without the proper regard for safety and had passed the concerns directly to the council’s parking team for urgent attention.

Issues have also been raised about motorists parking at the tennis courts in Beach House Park, on the pavement outside businesses in Brighton Road and vehicles parking beyond the bollards at Splashpoint.

Mr Griffiths said: “Basically, is it right in saying that any paved or pedestrian area can now be used for parking as long as the whole vehicle is off the road? This certainly seems to be what’s happening all over the town.”

Beach House Park is owned by the council but is not subject to the off-street parking order that governs the operation of the council’s car parks. Between April and October, members of the local bowls clubs are also allowed to park on the tennis courts either for matches or for practice sessions.

Mr Hopkins said: “We are currently working with NSL on identifying any vehicles parking on the tennis courts without a permit so that we can ask the drivers concerned to move their vehicles, allowing the bowlers to make use of the space in line with their concession.”

On-street parking is monitored by NSL Ltd on the council’s behalf.

Mr Hopkins said the council was aware of a number of areas where vehicles were parking on the pavement but had no legal power to pursue the drivers. However, if the vehicle parked on the pavement had to cross a double yellow line to get there, then the driver can be, by NSL Ltd.

Mr Hopkins said the council’s parking team would be pleased to take a walk around the areas in question with Mr Griffiths.