‘Reset’ for project to regenerate Worthing street

Worthing Borough Council has taken over the running of delayed plans to regenerate Portland Road.

Improvements, including the pedestrianisation of much of the area, were scheduled to start early this year but financial constraints coupled with the pandemic meant that was not possible.

At a meeting of the joint strategic committee, members were told the borough would take over the lead from West Sussex County Council, while appointing Project Centre Consultants as technical advisers.

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The county will provide £3m for the work, with another £697,000 coming from the Coast to Capital LEP.

Martin Randall, director for the economy, said: “This report reflects something of a reset for this project and we’re sincerely hopeful that this reset gets the project back on track as it were, because it’s a very important one.

“Probably even more important now than when we set out to reimagine Portland Road.”

Leader Daniel Humphreys agreed, calling the project ‘a testament to what Worthing Borough Council is doing to drive forward regeneration in our town’.

He added: “It’s a reset but a step forward nonetheless.”

Labour leader Rebecca Cooper was not so sure.

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She told the meeting she had received ‘lots of emails from residents who aren’t terribly excited about this’, adding: “Unfortunately, this isn’t something we think is going to be a great addition to the town centre.

“But it is an addition so let’s see what comes from this.”

The Portland Road scheme is one of eight identified under a public realm programme, which aims to ‘support the local economy by creating a better, more attractive environment for residents, shoppers, businesses and visitors’.

The other schemes include Teville Gate, Montague Place and South Street.

The final word of the evening went to Kevin Jenkins, executive member for regeneration.

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Mr Jenkins said businesses were ‘crying out’ for pedestrianisation in the area.

He added: “We need to crack on in this town.

“We can talk and we can talk and we consult and we consult – let’s just do some work and let’s stop harping on about it and let’s get on with it.”

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