Adur & Worthing Councils Parks Refurbishment programme has just announced that the popular Gallops Park Play area, Vale Drive, Worthing, will benefit from a £103,900 refurbishment this summer.

The Council’s Parks department have conducted a lengthy public consultation process, including pupils from the local Vale School.  Also, Findon Valley Residents Association (FVRA)and local Ward Councillors.

The plan (illustration attached) was the overriding favourite of all consulted, young and old.  The Council's hope to complete the installation to coincide with the school summer holidays, late July 2016.

These improvements are funded by a £103,900 budget provision from the 2015/16 Capital Investment Programme, which includes £30,000 from S106 funds.

Andy Edwards, Adur & Worthing Councils Head of Environment adds “We are very proud of the recent refurbishment work we have been able to undertake over the Adur & Worthing district in the past twelve months.  Including this latest project, we have invested just under £334,000 so far in new play area facilities and I am delighted we are able to announce these exciting plans for The Gallops.

The consultation process with the FVRA, and of course the pupils at Vale School, were key to realising this project.  Their input and enthusiasm has been a real driving force and a pleasure to observe.  

With recent figures claiming that children now average just one hour a day play out of the home, we are confident that The Gallops, along with all our other recent play area refurbishments, will buck this trend, making Adur & Worthing the place to work, rest and play!”

Ann Graville - Content Marketing Officer, Adur & Worthing Councils - 07850 760040

Voluntary and community groups across the Adur District are being invited to apply to the 2016-17 Community Grants fund, which supports great ideas from the community.

The Community Grants fund exists to support existing projects, or aid the startup of new projects which focus on any one of five key priorities:

●       Promoting health & wellbeing in the local community

●       Promoting community involvement and volunteering opportunities

●      Targeting inequalities and deprivation

●       Increasing partnership working between organisations and

●       Promoting the regeneration of the district

Adur District Council support local groups through community funding, up to £5,000 for  projects that meet the required criteria and are finally selected. This is a valuable resource for voluntary and charitable groups in the Adur district to access funding.

More information about the eligibility criteria and application guidance notes is available online - http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/adur-community-grants/

Other groups in Adur who have benefited from these grants include, Company Paradiso, Shawn Brown Boxing, Independent Lives - Voice for Disability, Hove & Adur Sea Cadets and Southwick Cricket Club.  

Applications for round one of Community Adur Grants are being accepted up until 5.00pm on Monday 30th May 2016.  If you have an idea for a project that you would like to discuss  please contact the Communities Team at Adur District Council on 01273 263311 or communities@adur-worthing.gov.uk

South Coast and Gatwick-based chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers, Carpenter Box, has appointed Maurice Frost to the role of Departmental Director in the Business Services Group to help build on the already successful growth of the firm’s Gatwick office.

Throughout his 26 years as a partner at an accountancy firm in Crawley, Maurice has gained vast experience of undertaking audits and of advising owner-managed businesses. During his career Maurice has also worked for one of the UK’s top five accountancy firms and his technical ability has been put to good practical use during a stint as a Financial Controller for a company within the care industry.

Carpenter Box opened its Gatwick office in June 2015 and has been welcomed into the business community to the point that it is now accelerating its plans for growth, to meet the demand for its services. Maurice will be focusing on owner-managed businesses of all sizes helping to increase their profitability and improve their tax efficiency.

He commented: “I am delighted to be appointed Department Director in an award-winning firm with such an excellent reputation as Carpenter Box. I have lived in Crawley from my youngest days and have played a part in the growth and development of the area over many years. I am well established in the business community, so I believe that I am in a good position to help the firm with its ambitious growth strategy and I relish the opportunity to be part of that journey.”

Outside of work, Maurice and his wife are to be found supporting the burgeoning sporting exploits of their teenage son.  Maurice plays drums and is also a Harlequins Rugby supporter.    

Just one week to go until the Local & PCC Elections on Thursday 5th May 2016

The local elections for Adur District Council, Worthing Borough Council, Lancing Parish Council, and the Police & Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday 5th May are just one week away.

Polling stations across the area will be open from 7.00am till 10.00pm, for voting.  All the information needed about the Elections and your nearest Polling Station can be found on the Adur & Worthing Councils website.

http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/upcoming-elections/

Or by calling the Councils Electoral Services team directly on 01903 221014.  The Electoral Services team can also be emailed at elections@adur-worthing.gov.uk.

Counting will begin at 6.30am on Friday 6th May, with results being announced on the Adur & Worthing website, Facebook and Twitter page, all later on the same day, as and when they are declared. 

The award winning Highdown Gardens in Worthing has launched a public consultation to support a major Lottery funding bid, for improvements to the visitor experience and to include an Education & Resource Centre within its grounds.  

The focus of these much needed improvements will be to enhance visitors experience and to further educate about the Garden and  its rich horticultural history. Also, to safeguard the Garden and National Plant Collection for future generations to come.

There are no plans to disrupt the quiet enjoyment of the Gardens  but add to the visitor experience with the introduction of a discreetly placed Education & Resource Centre. The bid will also look to make upgrades to other areas of infrastructure such as footpaths, watering systems and cold frames, to train volunteers to lead garden tours and begin a dedicated propagation program of the National Collection of plant introductions of Sir Fredrick Stern.

To achieve this, Highdown Gardens intend to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to finance this four-year project.  

Worthing Borough Council, who manage the Gardens, are seeking views from their local residents regarding the proposals for this important historical asset and ask that as many members of the public as possible  lend their support to the HLF funding bid by completing a short survey.

This initial consultation runs until Friday 13th May 2016 and full details can be found on the Highdown Gardens website. 

Worthing Borough Council are intending to submit the first round bid in September 2016 with the whole bidding process taking two years to complete. 

Adur & Worthing Councils' Wellbeing team are hosting an exciting new business-to-business food event designed by a collection of local organisations for the local hospitality industry.  

During the day there will be a schedule of guest speakers, including Jean-Christophe Novelli, a 5 out of 5 AA Rosette and Michelin award winning chef who, after some inspirational words, will be holding a Q&A session.

The Expo is being held at the Southern Pavilion, Worthing Pier on Tuesday 3rd May 2016, 10:00am to 6:30pm (free entry, but pre-registration is required).

This is a drop-in event, with those registered able to attend as is convenient throughout the day.

Topics covered will include; increasing local footfall for your business, free marketing opportunities, gluten-free and allergy friendly food, help with food compliance and food laws.

The event is also a great opportunity for local networking with local food business professionals and finding out about free training available in the area.

This is a business to business only event; open to all working in local restaurants, bars, hotels, takeaway food outlets, catering and food manufacturers in the Adur and Worthing area.

To register and for more information including the schedule of speakers, go to:

• Adur and Worthing Food Expo 2016 - registration website
• or on Twitter see @awfoodexpo2016

The local elections for Adur District Council, Worthing Borough Council, Lancing Parish Council, and the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on Thursday 5th May are just two weeks away.

Polling stations across the area will be open from 7am till 10pm, for voting.  All the information needed about the Elections and your nearest Polling Station can be found on the Adur & Worthing Councils website.

http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/upcoming-elections/

Or by calling the Councils Electoral Services team directly on 01903 221014.  The Electoral Services team can also be emailed at elections@adur-worthing.gov.uk.

One year on from the opening of a Travellers Transit site in Chichester (May 2015), Adur & Worthing Councils are pleased to report much fewer Travellers are illegally encamping in Adur and Worthing.

In Worthing from April 2014 to April 2015 there were a total of 32 illegal encampments reported, for the same period 2015 -2016 there were just 3.

In Adur from April 2014 to April 2015 there were a total of 29 illegal encampments reported, for the same period for 2015 -2016 there were just 13.

West Sussex County Council manage the Transit Site in Chichester. All residents using the site are reported to have paid the £150.00 deposit and utility charges due, with the plots being left in a clean & tidy state. The average length of stay has been around 3 to 4 weeks.

John Mitchell, Director for Communities for Adur & Worthing Councils adds “These figures show that the Chichester Transit site has proved to be a successful resource for the Councils and the Travelling community, resulting in dramatically fewer illegal encampments in the area.

It reveals the effectiveness of the partnership between ourselves and the other authorities involved in setting up the site and in the use of powers to tackle this problem.

Adur & Worthing Councils and its residents will also benefit from a substantial reduction in the inconvenience and costs associated with dealing with illegal encampments.