The WorthingBID will provide over £1million of investment on additional services to deliver improvements to Worthing Town Centre and its trading environment. 

Through consultation with the business community the focus of the WorthingBID will be: 

• a cleaner and well maintained town centre
• a safe and welcoming town centre
• a vibrant and well-marketed town centre 

To achieve these improvements businesses with a rateable value of more than £10,000 will contribute a 1% levy for a 5 year period. The levy will be collected with the business rates but will be ring fenced and spent locally on additional services within the BID area.

Chris Spratt Chairman of the Worthing Town Centre Initiative stated: 

“Worthing is not just about one business. The reason that our customers choose to visit the town is to enjoy the whole offer.

It is important to ensure that the visitor experience is memorable and encourages repeat visits. If everyone works together this can be achieved and Worthing can continue to be a thriving, vibrant and interesting town centre" .



Achievments 2008/2009

To view the BID Accounts for 2008/9  Click Here

The main focus on the Business Plan is to protect footfall and keep people visiting Worthing Town Centre.  The UK trend in Town Centres is downwards with many people using the internet or out of town shopping areas.  In 2008 the national trend on footfall was -5.8% with Worthing showing only a slight decline of -0.5%.

The Business Improvement District has 3 major objectives and here are the activities and achievements for 2008/9:-

A Cleaner well maintained Worthing

Montague Street has had one chewing gum removal and deep clean with another scheduled as soon as the Gas works are completed in April 2009.

South Street has now received the 2 deep cleans and chewing gum removal as set out in the business plan

4 vacant units were covered with old pictures of Worthing to encourage footfall passed an area where there were a number of empty shops.  Some of these coverings had to be removed due to short leases over the Christmas period and it is planned to have these replaced as soon as permission is received from the building owners.

A trial of portable ashtrays took place in the summer and proved very popular.  A large order has been placed in China to maximise the budget and these will be distributed via the wardens and premises with outside seating as soon as they arrive to minimise the impact of cigarette butts on the cleanliness of the town.

Graffiti protection was provided for the underpass artwork that a community group completed to improve the route from the station to the town centre.
 
Christmas Light installation and removal is not included in the BID but a small amount was allocated to Christmas Light improvements to enhance the display.

A safe and welcoming Worthing

From 1st May 2008 there have been 2 wardens patrolling Worthing.  They provide information to visitors, keep business informed on what is happening in the Town Centre; report maintenance issues such as loose paving and graffiti as well as supporting business to reduce crime.

The Shopwatch scheme has developed into a Business Crime Reduction partnership open to any business and membership is included within the BID levy.  Businesses that have signed Data Protection protocols can have information on known offenders provided and updated.

A Business Information Crime System has now been introduced in Worthing keeping track of all the reported incidents in the town allowing the Police to identify where Civil Bans or ASBO’s may be appropriate.

A vibrant, well-marketed Worthing

A range of events have been organised to encourage people into the town centre these have included:-

• High School Musical Event
• Warwick Street 200th Birthday celebration
• Summer Fun Weekend
• Additional Christmas event with Bjorn the animatronic Polar Bear

Worthing Birdman - without the BID monies this event would now be in Brighton.  The weekend delivered over £260,000 of publicity for Worthing and helped to increase July footfall by 12%.

Worthing Ice Rink funded by the BID in partnership with Worthing Borough Council.  This event has helped capture visitors to the town from outside our normal catchment and has encouraged people outdoors during really cold weather.

Press Releases on the positive news stories have been produced and other marketing materials such as pocket guides and information leaflets have been produced and circulated.

Videos for each of the trading areas in the town have been produced for the new videoscreens to encourage visitors to extend their stay and explore.

The Worthing Town Centre website www.worthingtowncentre.co.uk has been developed to include business listings and more information to encourage visitors.  This website is being marketed at major events and on the videoscreens. 

Actions for 2009/2010

During 2009/10 the BID levy business plan will be allocated in the following ways:-

Wardens
The wardens will continue and following our survey; along with the open meeting it has been agreed the hours will change slightly and more focus will be given to the ambassodorial duties.

Deep Cleaning
South Street and Montague Street will be deep cleaned again and the Montague Centre and Warwick Street will have a chewing gum removal once the required permissions have been obtained.
 
Clean Streets Education
The videoscreens will display anti litter messages and hot spots will receive attention where appropriate. 
 
Event Program
Events are already planned for the year including an Easter Italian Market and Street Entertainment event, a Doctor Who event, a Halloween event with Scooby Doo and the Worthing Birdman on 22nd / 23rd August 2009.  Bjorn the bear will be returning for Christmas along with the Pip, Pop and Santa show a character show especially for Christmas. The Ice Rink will be reviewed to see if this has delivered the objectives of the BID and if it should be arranged again in 2009/10.

Marketing
Keep the focus on Worthing by issuing press releases about activities in the town as well as encouraging the media to cover events and activities in the Town Centre.  Continue to improve the website and start to look at marketing using new technologies.