The Worthing Society celebrates a fortieth anniversary this year. During this time we have run many Public Campaigns to save many of the historic buildings you still see today including the Dome and the Grade II* Listed Beach House. One of our most successful Campaigns was to save the Desert Quartet for the town and gain their Grade II* listed status. These are the distinctive sculptures by the late dame Elizabeth Frink. More recently in 2018 we ran a Campaign supported by the Council to upgrade the South Street Conservation Area which included the upgrading and redecoration of many buildings in the town centre.
The Society also makes representation to the Planning Department in respect of the larger developments in the town. We appreciate the need for housing but consider new buildings should sit well with their heritage I terms of design, scale and mass. The choice of appropriate materials is also important to the character of the town. The challenge as quoted from Historic England is’ how we manage change in a heritage environment.’ Our Campaigns illustrate the fact that our heritage buildings can contribute to the character of the town and our local economy.
Susan Belton
Worthing Society Chairman.