Bright future ahead for Worthing’s much-loved Brooklands Park

A much-loved pleasure park is set for an environmental makeover after Worthing Borough Council pushed on with plans for a long-awaited upgrade.

Following environmental concerns over the condition of the lake in Brooklands Pleasure Park, the local authority has agreed up to allocate up to £850,000 towards refurbishing the attraction.

This hope is by working with the community, the 45-acre park just off east Worthing seafront will be preserved for generations to come.

Councillor Diane Guest, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said:

“Brooklands Park holds a special place in the hearts not only only of the local community but tens of thousands of visitors who return here year after year.

“It really is a unique attraction and I’m confident that this significant investment is just the start of a bright new future for the area.

“I hope that by working with the community we can come up with a long-term solution that will benefit all of the users of the park, while enhancing the amazing natural habitat within it.”

Worthing Borough Council agreed to carry out work last year due to fears over the environmental impact of silt building up on the bottom of the eight-acre lake.

After inviting contractors to submit proposals for the work, senior councillors on Adur and Worthing Councils’ Joint Strategic Committee agreed on Tuesday (June 6, 2017) to allocate up to £850,000 towards the scheme.

The local authority will now push on with appointing a company to carry out the dredging of the lake.

The works will also see silt traps installed to prevent further buildup of silt; changes to the current approach of Teville Stream through Valley Gardens; and using the removed silt to create new islands and margins within the lake to encourage wildlife.

Once a contract has been awarded and relevant checks signed off, the refurbishment could start as early as this autumn.

Once complete, the local authority will then work with the community to create a management plan for the park with the aim of establishing a Friends of Brooklands Park group.