Adur & Worthing Councils Team•11 months ago Central Worthing Conversations (Summary followed by individual write-ups)Here’s a concise summary of the five Central Worthing conversations:Key Themes Across All ConversationsWhat People Love:
Proximity to the sea, beach, and Downs.
Green spaces, parks, and trees.
Community spirit, friendliness, and safety.
Arts, music, and cultural scenes (e.g., pier, festivals, voluntary-run venues).
Walkability and small-town feel.
Common Concerns:
Traffic and transport issues (poor parking, congestion, need for better cycling infrastructure).
Declining town centre (empty shops, lack of investment, need for regeneration).
Housing affordability and poor-quality housing.
Lack of activities for young people.
Environmental concerns (litter, need for more greenery, wildlife protection).
Key Ideas & Wishes:Transport & Infrastructure
Better public transport (frequent, affordable buses, ferries between coastal towns).
More pedestrian & cyclist-friendly areas (car-free zones, safer cycle lanes, 20mph limits).
Improved parking (hospital, seafront, free/simpler parking for locals).
Innovative solutions (hovercraft service, bridge across the bay).
Housing & Development
More affordable housing.
Repurpose empty shops/buildings (for charities, community spaces, creative hubs).
Consult residents first in planning decisions.
Culture & Economy
Revitalise the town centre (shopping revival, youth projects, live music).
More activities for young people (youth clubs, skill-building, creative spaces).
Restore the lido (like Saltdean) and improve seafront attractions (boat trips, watersports).
Support arts & culture (bookshops with social spaces, festivals, eco-friendly gatherings).
Environment
More greenery & rewilding (street trees, wildflowers, community gardens).
Beach & sea protection (cleaner shores, bans on jet skis/motorboats, seaweed harvesting).
Circular economy & sustainability (better recycling, eco-initiatives in schools).
Event-Specific Highlights:
Crew Social (2 June) – Strong focus on transport improvements and repurposing empty shops.
Family Conversation (3 June) – Requests for seafront upgrades (Ferris wheel, boat trips) and free parking for locals.
Stitch It @CREW (7 June) – Emphasis on youth spaces, housing, and creative regeneration.
Mirth for Earth (13 June) – Ideas for eco-friendly events (seaweed gathering, nudist beach) and cultural vibrancy.
Stitch It @Fringe (21 June) – Desires for affordable kid-friendly spaces, a university campus, and better WiFi.
Overall Sentiment:Residents cherish Worthing’s natural beauty and community but want better infrastructure, more opportunities for young people, and sustainable development. There’s a strong call for inclusive, creative solutions to revive the town while protecting its environment.Individual Write-ups:Event / Engagement name: CREW SOCIAL at TOAD IN THE HOLE PUBDate: 2 June 2025Facilitator: Sally LemsfordAttendees (number and description of who (residents, partner org, business VCSE, mixed): 9 (residents)Age and gender split of who is in the conversation: all ages, prefer not to define genderThe place where we live and work: WorthingWhat we love
calmness, not 90mph
next to the sea and Downs
the beach
having the sea and greenery on our doorstep
seafront and access to green spaces
the sea, the beach and pier are unspoilt and not over-developed
the sea air
the proximity to the sea
parks, especially beach House Park
trees
friendly neighbourhoods
community
the nightlife particularly the voluntary-run Cellar Bar
the artscene
it’s flat
Worthing is a relatively small town and most things are within easy walking/public transport distance
What we would lose
pavement parking
traffic problems
empty shops and derelict/abandoned buildings
empty shops- they should be let out to charities or CICs
shops declined, centre run down so have to order online
nobody wants to come and visit
Ideas: We wish we could …TRANSPORTBetter buses especially in Broadwaterhovercraft service from Portsmouth to Brighton20mph speed limit on some roadsmore disabled parkingbetter parking at the hospitalmore cyclist friendly roadsmore cycle lanesneed more safe cycle lanesless traffic e.g. one-way everywhere so that one lane’s for wheelsbetter busesmore car-free zonesbetter bike lanesno cars in the town centrecheap, frequent busesmore/bigger car free zoneless trafficimproved public transport infrastructure (although I usually walk if I can)pedestrianised roadsless cars, more walking, buses and bikesmore cycle lanesbetter bike lanesa bridge across the bay to be an alternative to the existing polluting A27, to provide a sea wildlife havenstop pavement parking (obstruction for pushchairs, wheelchairs etc.)one-way systemsHOUSINGmore affordable housingCULTURAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTa town that people want to visitopportunities for young peoplemore for young people to domore youth clubsmore investment in planning from young peoplereopen the lido as a lido ( like Saltdean lido)user-friendly places to go to socialise/interactjoined up thinking around recycling, re-using and resource sharingmore comprehensive recycling schemea more coherent circular economy where resources are rcycled as fully as technically possible to reduce waste and necessity to mine for materialsaccess to vegan, veg foodmore neighbourhood schemesmore community spaces e.g.in empty shops etc!community spaces inside and outsidejoined up town from the station to the seadevelop empty shops – let them out to charitiesshops to reduce online shoppingdevelop derelict/abandoned buildingsENVIRONMENTalternative green corridor from stationgreen town centregreen city for the futuretrees on the streetsmore trees on the streetsmore community green spaces, friendly neighbourhoodmore wildflowers, greenerymore re–wildingbee highwaysEvent / Engagement name: FAMILY CONVERSATIONDate: 3 June 2025Facilitator: Sally LemsfordAttendees (number and description of who (residents, partner org, business VCSE, mixed): 2 (residents)Age and gender split of who is in the conversation: all ages, prefer not to define genderThe place where we live and work: WorthingWhat we love sea and DownsWhat we would losehave to pay for car parking in advanceIdeas: We wish we could …free Ferris wheel more interesting shells and other and fascinating thingsunderwater slide to see the sea animalsfloats out with toys on a platform to go out to (cover ups in case it rains)develop the seafront – boat trips from the pier (pier renovated)be allowed to park at the seafront – no yellow lines for localspedestrian crossing at Broadwater Greenmore shops less onlineEvent / Engagement name: Stitch It @CREW workshop at WSK café hubDate: 7 June 2025Facilitator: Sally LemsfordAttendees (number and description of who (residents, partner org, business VCSE, mixed): 7(residents)Age and gender split of who is in the conversation: all ages, prefer not to define gender The place where we live and work: Worthing, BrightonWhat we love less busy than bigger placessea on south of the Downsvariety of entertainment here, cinemas, theatrefriendliness – feel safe here even at nightcommunity spiritWhat we would losemad traffic system near the town hall with underpasstoo much shutting down temporary housing to create expensive flatsbad housing situationnothing in town to attract peoplenot enough creativityplaces shut downIdeas: We wish we could …TRANSPORTmore free parkingimprove walk from station to the seaHOUSINGimprove bad housing situationCULTURAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTconsultation FIRST with Worthing people – creative people involved with the outcome + do it properly, properly tendered fortown centre shopping revivalregenerate West Endcelebrate the pirate historyGuildbourne Centre decorated sustainably, creatively, user friendlytown centre shopping revivalbeach – watersports, get energised, skinny dippingwine bars on the beachless cafesyouth gardens, own spaces, art boards to share feelings, emotions, youth projectsyouth centres for today – dj-ing, community stuffopen spaces for young people on bikesopportunities to learn skillsfestival of kids and young peopleENVIRONMENTincreased environmental awareness in schools, public placesmore treesmore community vegetable growing and orchards, more green spaces and fruit treesEvent / Engagement name: MIRTH FOR EARTH OPEN-MINDED MIC EVENING Date: 13 June 2025Facilitator: Sally LemsfordAttendees (number and description of who (residents, partner org, business VCSE, mixed): 16 (residents)Age and gender split of who is in the conversation: 18+, prefer not to define genderThe place where we live and work: Worthing, BrightonWhat we love a lot of poets in Worthing & musiciansa lot of musicgeography – from the sea to the Downsproximity sea – Downsbeachthe parksnature, fresh airwarmthWorthing’s urban democracy – happily sharing the same space – inclusivefriendliness – sea front easy to walk alongthe communitythe piernow – better – more cosmopolitan, cafes open in eveningits restaurantscafes, markets, businesses – lots of opportunities to meet peopleIdeas: We wish we could …TRANSPORTferries for day trips and transport between seaside townsban jet-skis & motorboats, ban cruisesCULTURE/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTunderwater aquariummore children’s activities there (beach)a low-tide ceilidhcommunity eco-friendly gatherings + productive activities to improve the environmentEcstatic Dance Sessionshave the Lido, a real draw for people to come to Worthing (from September let the dogs in too)community of people repairing, trying to save resourcesseaweed gathering for foodmake it a nudist beachENVIRONMENTrepurpose the shingle to form a causeway to enable freedom of movement – shingle causewaykeep it cleanclean it up – no shit!respect the beachleave undisturbedlet it run free and rehouse the beachies in a wetland (with free wellies & mosquitos)Event / Engagement name: Stitch It @CREW workshop in Colonnade House for Fringe and Fibres (part of Worthing Festival)Date: 21 June 2015Facilitator: Sally LemsfordAttendees (number and description of who (residents, partner org, business VCSE, mixed): 12 (residents)Age and gender split of who is in the conversation: all ages, prefer not to define genderThe place where we live and work: Worthing, BrightonWhat we love Splashpoint (better than Brighton pools)beach is less busy than Brighton beachbeach and seaWhat we would losecarparksempty shopsLitterIdeas: We wish we could …CULTURAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTnot develop the beachopen the lido as a lido affordable activity cafes for kidscollege or university campus in the heart of the townbookshop to go in and knit, sofas to sit on, bookclubs, book swapsmore live musicactivities in townwifi that works