Worthing shopping parades to be given makeovers

With residents shopping in areas closer to home due to Government restrictions, suburban shopping areas have gained more support from their communities.

The council said it recognises the importance of these hubs and the need to ensure they remain attractive places for people to visit, shop and spend time in socially.

The four sites that will benefit from improvements are Goring Road East, Broadwater, Kings Parade in Findon Valley and The Strand in Durrington.

Work – which includes jet washing, landscaping, repainting and new street furniture installed – has already begun and will continue over the next two to three months.

It forms part of the wider programme of work to improve the public realm within Worthing This includes the multi-million pound investment in Portland Road and Railway Approach, which is supported by West Sussex County Council.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing’s executive member for regeneration, said: “With many residents working from home due to the pandemic and being unable to venture into town or farther afield, they have been experiencing retail much closer to home.

“Our local parades have really held their own over the past year and we have witnessed local businesses in different areas gaining more support from their communities.

“With this in mind, it’s important that we as a Council invest in these local parades, helping to ensure they remain bright, attractive and polished places that people want to continue to visit once lockdown is over.”

Each of the four areas have been assessed by Council teams and local representatives, such as residents or businesses, with a bespoke improvement plan created for each.

All sites will be jet washed and have weeds removed while disused signs and street furniture will be taken out to provide more accessible space.

In Goring, much of the street furniture will be repainted and old benches will be replaced while Broadwater will gain new park benches and planting.

In Findon Valley the older style planters and bollards will be removed, older street furniture will be replaced with smart, contemporary street furniture and planters will be added.

At The Strand, old signage and railings will be removed and new bike racks and benches will be installed - as well as some masonry works carried out.

Supporting communities and the promotion of high streets are both areas identified within Adur & Worthing Councils’ direction of travel Platforms for our Places: Going Further and the And Then... Bouncing back in post-pandemic Adur and Worthing strategy.