BBC Introducing in line-up for music event

Following on from the #Scratchpad project at Colonnade House the spotlight is on the next generation of musical artists with an event called What Next? At St Paul’s, Worthing that aims to bring together young musicians, venues and producers in Worthing.

Speakers confirmed include Casey Heyburn (BBC Introducing), Chloe Brookes (Arts Council England), Alex Bailey (CEO Adur & Worthing Councils) , Elijah (Butterz & Lighthouse) and the evening will focus on the ingredients for a diverse contemporary music scene and how they can be brought together in Worthing.

BBC Introducing has been a first step in the careers of artists like Ed Sheeran, Slaves & Rizzle Kicks who attended AudioActive projects in their teens and are now Patrons of the #Scratchpad partner organisation. Uploaded tracks get sent to the BBC's local radio shows where they get listened to by the team of local presenters and producers. If they like them the tracks could get broadcast on local stations and even propelled onto the national stage through BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, Radio 3, Asian Network and World Service.

Grime label Butterz was set up by DJ’s Elijah and Skilliam in 2007 and helped bring instrumental grime to the forefront of the electronic music scene, being ranked as one of the 10 Best Record Labels in 2011. Elijah is currently Associate Artistic Director at Lighthouse in Brighton curating and producing Last Dance, a new nationwide programme that examines the artistic and social importance of club culture.

As well as the speakers and debate, there is a chance to hear from upcoming local musicians who had the opportunity to meet and jam with AudioActive Patron Rag’n’Bone Man early on in the #Scratchpad project, when the Brit Award Winning blues man paid a surprise visit to the project at Colonnade House in January.

Places at this event are free - register here: https://whatnextworthing.eventbrite.co.uk

You will also be able to hear the music that’s been made during #Scratchpad at an outdoors event in the afternoon on Saturday 24th March in Montague Place, and at an evening of urban electronic music at Bar 42 on Thursday 12th April.

#Scratchpad is a partnership project between Adur & Worthing Trust, AudioActive, Northbrook Metropolitan College, As Described and Adur & Worthing Councils with generous funding from Arts Council England, Worthing Town Centre Initiative and Worthing Community Chest.

Did the Spring Statement do enough for SMEs?

The Spring Statement has been well received by the small business sector, but could the Chancellor have done more to help SMEs, especially with regard to late payment?

In the run up to the Spring Statement, small businesses were crying out for action on late payment. The Chancellor delivered, announcing that there will be a review into an issue that, according to the Federation of Small Businesses, closes an estimated 50,000 businesses every year and costs the economy £2.5 billion annually. The move has been applauded and rightly so, however, small business owners won’t be hanging out the bunting just yet. Talk of combating late payment has rarely been followed up by meaningful action.

Nevertheless, the mention of the issue at such a level is an indication that it is being taken seriously. Furthermore, the Spring Statement included positive news with regard to business rates, training, apprenticeships and tax and VAT. In short, after a series of disappointing Budgets, there is a lot more for small businesses owners to be optimistic about.

That said, SMEs will be mindful of the timetable attached to the government’s promises. At the moment, there is no information on when a review of late payment might take place and while the next business rates revaluation has been brought forward, it still won’t take place until 2021. It is very much the case that small businesses need help sooner rather than later.

The Chancellor’s statement with regard to economic growth underlines the urgency surrounding assistance for the small business sector. While the growth forecast for 2018 has been increased, at 1.5% it remains low, and perhaps most tellingly, the forecasts for the years ahead, already lower, have been further reduced. This suggests that conditions are set to remain challenging as Brexit-borne uncertainty continues to negatively impact the market.

With this outlook in mind, for all the optimism attached to the Spring Statement, there is the sense that a few more details and a little more urgency could have gone a long way to assuring SMEs that the help that they need will arrive in time. Because it seems clear that these businesses will need all the resources available to them in order to successfully navigate some choppy economic waters in the coming years.

These resources have to include an awareness of and easy access to alternative finance, which is helping small business raise capital to fund vital investment and maintain cashflow. For example, invoice finance is being used to manage the impact of late payment, while peer-to-peer lending is a means of accessing money to fund training and purchase new equipment.

Overall, the Spring Statement has been positive for small business owners and has brought the promise of much-needed action on key issues. Perhaps the next Budget will build on these developments. All eyes are on the government.

To find out more about A&T Business Associates services, contact Tony on 01903 602211 or tony@atbusinessassociates.co.uk.

Demolition of Worthing’s Teville Gate underway

Work to demolish a landmark Worthing site which is primed for redevelopment is underway.

For years, the privately-owned multi-storey and surrounding buildings at Teville Gate have been an eyesore for residents and visitors to the town.

To save taxpayers money in the long run, the local authority is stepping in to demolish the outdated and expensive-to-maintain 1960s car park which it leases on the land.

A 47 ton 360° excavator began the demolition by tearing off the roof of the former Bed King mattress kiosk.

Once demolished, the council plan to turn the land into a temporary car park to generate a short-term income, while private owner Mosaic brings forward a detailed proposal for the plot it calls Station Square.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: ““The demolition of Teville Gate marks a real turning point. It’s a clear statement of intent from the council that Worthing is open for  business.”

“ As a town, Worthing needs to move forward into the 21st century, making the best use of sites such as Teville Gate for future generations. This council led progress is just the beginning of what will be a number of important initiatives across the town.”

To speed up the the process, the council agreed to consider demolition plans at a town hall meeting in September 2017.

At the time, councillors heard that the current multi-storey car park has significant maintenance issues, requiring an investment of £2 million over the next four years to keep it fully open.

The £1.6 million demolition cost will be funded from the Local Growth Fund provided by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Access to the site was closed in January and blue hoardings have been erected around the perimeter.

Councillors signed off on the appointment of Hughes and Salvidge to carry out the work last month.

As well as the multi-storey, owners Mosaic want to knock down the kiosk, Burfree House and Fleet House.

The contractors have been busy preparing the buildings for demolition and have now begun the process of slowly dismantling them.

The next stage is to soft strip the buildings, which involves removing all of the non structural elements inside and out. Once this is complete, the contractors will begin the structural demolition of the car park and Bed King.

Every effort will be made to keep noise and dust to a minimum. A vertical crane will hang a solid mat to stop foreign object debris escaping from the site and a DustBoss machine will release fine particles of water to dampen it down.

Work is expected to take place between 8am and 6pm on Monday to Friday and from 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

Monarflex sheeting will be wrapped around the scaffolding to keep dust in and will also act as a noise barrier.

Councillor Diane Guest, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, said: “Teville Gate is one of the gateways to Worthing and its demolition after so many years marks a real catalyst for change. It’s great to see cranes back in the town centre .”

“As Member for Environment, I’m also thrilled that 96% of materials from the site will be recycled to use on other construction projects.”

If all goes according to plan, the demolition of the site should be completed in 16-20 weeks.

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Views wanted on Sompting Neighbourhood Plan

Sompting residents are invited to have their say on a new local planning blueprint which will guide development in their area.

As they look to shape the place where they work and live, the community has been working on the neighbourhood plan since 2012.

The document, which must work alongside national policies and the recently adopted Adur Local Plan, is now being made available for public consultation.

The community can give their views on the document from today (February 19) until midnight on April 8, 2018.

Once all comments are in, the plan will be placed under examination and finally put to a referendum prior to adoption. More than 51% of those voting must be in favour for it to be adopted.

The Sompting Neighbourhood Plan covers all of Sompting Parish, which lies within the planning remit of Adur District Council and South Downs National Park Authority. As the planning authority with the largest population of these two, Adur is overseeing the consultation process.

Government guidelines state the plan cannot say it wants less housing than what has been allocated - meaning it cannot oppose the development of land at West Sompting allocated in the Adur Local Plan.

The neighbourhood blueprint can guide the design and type of housing that is created though, along with guiding future provision of community facilities and open space.

Copies of the document are available to read online and at the Harriet Johnson Community Centre in Sompting, Portland House in Worthing, and the Shoreham Centre. Notices have also been posted across the area, including on local notice boards.

For more details and to comment on the plan, visit www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/sompting-neighbourhood-plan

Public will be listened to on Union Place

Worthing leaders have pledged to take public feedback into consideration as they drive forward proposals to revamp a key town centre site.

Frustrated with the lack of movement at Union Place, Worthing Borough Council made the bold move to acquire the site for £3.5 million last month.

Since then, work has begun to safely secure the area with new hoardings now in place.

Keen to push on with an ambitious agenda of creating jobs and homes, the council is continuing to work hard on bringing forward major long-term plans within the next 12 months.

With more than 20,000 people reading articles about the council buying the site and nearly 100 providing comments on what any redevelopment should include, local authority leaders have pledged to listen to the public when bringing forward major plans.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “From the wonderful to the slightly wacky, the public feedback we have had has been incredible - it clearly shows how much local residents feel invested in seeing the redevelopment of this key town centre site.

“Now we own the site, we are in control of our own destiny. But it’s still crucial that we weigh up all options before pursuing our next move.

“I look forward to working with the public as we push forward with our ambitious plans which I believe will begin a new chapter of prosperity for our town.”

Union Place is adjacent to the High Street, opposite Waitrose and next to the council-owned Connaught Theatre and leased car park.

It was the home of the town’s police station but, when that was closed and demolished in 2009, the 1.4 hectare site became vacant and derelict.

Worthing Borough Council bought the site from the private owner last month. By combining it with the car park which sits on land the local authority already owns, the next step is to work with other partners to bring forward deliverable proposals for the whole site.

Already the council has received dozens of comments through social media channels on what should be done with the land.

Scott Gair said: “Let’s take this fantastic opportunity to do something different with our wonderful town. Lets add a new reason for locals and visitors to get out and enjoy our place...Something unique that distinguishes us from our neighbours would be a good start. Off the top of my head - indoor ski slope...rock climbing wall, you could do a huge indoor adventure playground...top notch spa perhaps? The choices are endless and exciting.”

Jo Edwards said: “Please let's have a full size ice rink - capable of ice hockey and ice dance. There is nothing like that anywhere near here and would bring people from Chichester, Horsham and Brighton in, as well as providing new sporting and social facilities.”

Mark Dibley said: “I think the council should consolidate the existing retail and concentrate on making Worthing a family holiday destination.”

Victoria Harvey said: “An aquarium, treetop adventure park, ice rink, tiny town, indoor skate park, bowling alley, laser tag, youth/urban art space, youth centre. Not a multiplex but potentially a proper IMAX.”

Alan Spencer said: “We need quality in our town...John Lewis or House of Fraser.”

In response, Councillor Jenkins said: “I will repeat what I said when we bought the site: all options remain open to us at this stage. We will listen to everyone’s views and suggestions, but recognise we will never please everybody. But the main thing is that we ensure the best possible result for the people of Worthing.”

BUILDING AW: Council development in Shoreham to create hundreds of jobs

A groundbreaking office development to be created by Adur District Council will see 250 jobs retained in the area - and lead to the creation of 200 further posts in the next three years.

The big boost for the local economy was revealed as the new tenants of the block in Shoreham were interviewed for the second edition of the Building AW magazine.

In a bid to boost the local economy and generate a return to the taxpayer, the local authority is creating a new £10 million development on the former Civic Centre car park in Ham Road.

In what is a rare move, the council will then lease the four-storey building to growing communications company Focus Group, who will relocate from their current base in Southwick.

With contractors about to start work, the founders of the business revealed their plans in an interview for the second edition of Adur & Worthing Councils’ online magazine, which is designed to keep residents and business up-to-date with the ongoing change in the area.

As Ralph Gilbert, of Focus Group, explained: “We currently have just over 200 staff in Sussex and our strategy is to look to expand by buying up other companies across the UK.

“As we grow, the operational teams will be based at our head office in Shoreham, so this will be our home.

“We anticipate that by the time we move in to the new site we will have well over 300 staff. Once we are in I think realistically we will create another 200 jobs in the first 18 months.

“That’s obviously great news for us, local workers and the local economy.”

The development will bring back into use the car park site which has been largely vacant since the Civic Centre closed in 2013.

Council contractors are expected to start next month with work complete by 2019.

Gilbert added: “The whole team at the council have been brilliant. They realise the importance of keeping local companies in the area, in terms of jobs and the impact that has on the local economy.

“If we would have moved out of the area then it would have really set us back too. We would have lost between 25 and 30 percent of our staff as they simply would not have been able to get there. Our staff are the most important part of our business, which is why the proposal was so critical for us.

“I’m amazed that the council is doing this for us. I don’t think it will sink in until I can see those diggers! It can’t come soon enough for us all.”

Building AW is a bright, informal 26-page online publication which will keep residents and businesses across both areas up-to-date with all the latest development in their communities.

Features in the February edition include Worthing Borough Council’s £3.5 million purchase of Union Place; the ongoing redevelopment of Shoreham Harbour which will bring more than 1,100 homes to the riverfront; and the unveiling of a grand vision to create ‘continental-style’ boulevards in Worthing town centre.

The online publication also includes regular updates on some of the major projects across Adur and Worthing which are moving forward at speed.

In their introductions to the edition, leaders said 2018 would see both areas make great strides in terms of redevelopment and growth.

Councillor Brian Boggis, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “We in Adur have an exiting 2018 ahead of us. It started early when we formally adopted the Adur Local Plan which presents us with a firm blueprint for the future of the whole area.

“It recognises that we are a growing community and ensures that due consideration is given to quality residential development and the provision of the necessary infrastructure, such as education, health provision and employment, to avoid us just becoming a dormitory for the larger nearby conurbations.”

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “The year has started with a bang.

“The council has taken the lead and site hoardings are up around Teville Gate. This spring will see us bring down the buildings we have control over as we nudge this overdue site forward for development, working with Mosaique to hold them to their promises to bring a planning application forward soon.

“But not content with that, we have taken the initiative and have bought the vacant old police station site, we now have control of the key Union Place sites and will seek effective development partners in the coming months to deliver on this prime site.

“Add to this our vision in the Seafront Investment Plan to improve our magnificent seafront, the partnership with West Sussex County Council to improve the town centre public realm and there is a lot to look forward to.

“It will be a busy year but I think we’ve got off to a good start so far.”

Click here to read the second edition of Building AW.

Clay Pigeon Shoot challenge with GuildCare

Date: Friday 23rd March 2018
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Venue: Southdown Gun Club, Findon
Cost: Teams of 4 - £500
  Individuals - £125

Includes breakfast, tea and coffee, shooting and a delicious lunch

In aid of Guild care's Ashdown Centre for children and young people with disabilities and additional needs.

To register call 01903 528613 or email Helen on fundrasing@guildcare.org 

As well as Team participation, we do also have excellent sponsorship opportunities and for £375.00 you will not only have your advertising on social media, sail flags out on the day, advertising banner at one of the stands and advertising in the programme, your advertising will be left in place at the gun club for over six months and be seen by over 10,000 potential clients. Of course this will also highlight your support for Guild Care and our Ashdown Centre, helping provide vital services for local children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs.

Care for Veterans Quiz Night

Date: Thursday 3rd May
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Care for Veterans, Gifford House, Boundary Road, Worthing
Cost: £10 per person - includes buffet supper

Teams up to 6 people

Places must be booked in advance - Call Kim Bowen-Wood on 01903 218444

All money raised will go towards the care and rehabilitation of our disabled veterans