2 weeks Ago
Businesses have asked councillors for more support and the suspension of roadworks due to the risk of closure. Traders in Worthing town centre are facing a number of challenges, including drop in footfall due to roadworks and fears for the impact of changes to parking charges. Since January, High Street in Worthing has been partially closed while Hemiko begins the installation of pipework for its low carbon heat network, impacting nearby businesses.
Holly Earley owns Handmade By Holly UK and Friends in High Street. Her shop is situated in front of the roadworks and has been impacted by noise disruption as well as a lack of custom. Earlier this month, Worthing Business Improvement District (Bid) called on the council to implement a free parking initiative , the suspension of other roadworks bar that of Hemiko and a business rates holiday.
Holly Earley says her business has been impacted by the works (Image: The Argus) The Bid stated that businesses were under threat of imminent closure and needed urgent support. At a full council meeting on Tuesday, March 18, traders put questions to Worthing Borough Council at the town hall. Eamonn Ali, owner of Contrast Clothing in the Guildbourne Centre, asked how the council is going to “help local businesses before immediate closure” due to the “roadworks and parking changes".
Councillor Rita Garner, cabinet member for regeneration, read out a statement on the issues businesses are facing. Cllr Garner said: “I really do hear how serious a time this is for the businesses in our town centre. “It’s especially true for your businesses in the Guildbourne Centre.
“I know it’s not the same, but I have similar feelings being in a council that is also so close to the edge. “Being in a similarly precarious financial situation, we know only too well how difficult it is to juggle. “When things are so difficult, I am sure it’s hard to hear, but a heat network is a good thing.
“This is a once in a generation project. The Hemiko roadworks in High Street (Image: The Argus) “Our children and grandchildren will benefit. “We need to act now and work together.
We’ll work more closely as a council with businesses and the Worthing Bid. “This is too serious to be used as political football.” In response to Mr Ali, Cllr Garner said: “We’ve worked with West Sussex County Council and Hemiko to ensure they understand the issues.
“Hemiko has offered free parking before Christmas and they are meeting with the Bid this week. “West Sussex County Council is considering low cost or free parking vouchers that businesses can give directly to their customers." Cllr Garner also stated that the Worthing Bid has been referred to the business rates officer to discuss a hardship fund application and an application has been made to the valuation office in relation to severe disruption.
“We want to work more closely with businesses and the Bid because we believe that’s the only way to tackle this very real problem”, Cllr Garner added. Hannah Manzaroli, Worthing's Bid Manager, is calling for 'urgent support' (Image: The Argus) Marnie Williams, owner of Flux Piercing Studio in Stanford Square, also highlighted the impact of parking changes on businesses. Ms Williams asked: “With the disruption being caused by Hemiko and the impact this is having on businesses in the town, why is the council working against us making it unviable and unattractive to come into Worthing and stay longer? “By making the decision to change parking, enforce short, no return restrictions on on-street parking and, to add insult to injury, why are you then raising the cost of parking in the town?” Cllr Garner said: “I want to assure you that the council very much wants to work with businesses and certainly not against them.
“Parking income ensures we can provide essential services. The change in parking tech was made because the old tech was not reliable any longer. “The technology we've implemented is exactly the same as what we’ve used in our surface car parks.
READ MORE: Brighton business leaders say the city is held back by poor transport infrastructure “The on-street parking restrictions are set by West Sussex County Council but there are no restrictions in off-street car parks. “The council has had to make significant savings and we had to request special financial arrangements with the government. “This agreement requires that we demonstrate we've done all we can to balance our books and that includes increasing parking charges.
" Cllr Garner added that the council has been able to make some changes to parking, including extending the amount of time people have when they arrive to purchase parking. Ms Williams said the change to the parking has “impacted quite a lot”, meaning people “can’t walk around the town freely” and have to “rush back to the car park”. During the meeting, Councillor Carl Walker also highlighted potential disruption to businesses when work begins on Montague Gardens.
Under plans, Montague Place will be transformed into a "new green space that links the town to the sea". Cllr Garner said: “Just before Christmas, I visited all the businesses to make sure they knew about the changes. “We’ll be able to work in detail with the businesses to mitigate any problems.
“We don’t anticipate it will be really bad for them.” Cllr Walker also asked if an initiative would be implemented if businesses experienced disruption. Cllr Garner said the council would work with businesses and Worthing Bid to ensure there were things happening “to continue to draw people into the town”.
Councillor Kevin Jenkins, leader of the opposition, added concerns that works for Montague Gardens could be delayed until the summer, which is the “peak season” for businesses. Cllr Jenkins called for assurance on advance notices for businesses ahead of work so they can prepare. Cllr Garner said works were still on track for late spring, “sometime in May”, and businesses would have “as much advance notice as possible”.
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