Worthing car park reopens after major structural repairs

Buckingham Road car park in Worthing is finally open again after it was closed in 2021 for refurbishment amid safety concerns.

The structure needed repairs because of its age and Worthing Borough Council decided to “improve its other features” during the closure, which was supposed to end in summer 2022.

New CCTV cameras have been installed, there are more and larger disabled bays as well as larger parent-and-child and dementia-friendly bays.

It has also been redecorated and resurfaced.

The way people pay for their parking has also changed.

Instead of paying when they leave, drivers will need to pay for their stay when they arrive, as they do in the council’s surface car parks.

Dementia friendly bays (Image: Worthing Borough Council)

A council spokesman said: “It needed major structural repairs because of its age, so while this work was underway we used the opportunity to improve its other features for those who drive into the town centre.

“We know it’s been closed for quite a lot longer than we had hoped it would be, but we’re grateful for everyone’s patience while the work was being done.

“The car park has also been resurfaced and completely redecorated so it is cleaner and brighter than before.

Inside the refurbished car park (Image: Worthing Borough Council)

“We’ll have more members of our parking team out and about in the car park to speak to customers who need help.

“We’re also carrying out maintenance work at the Grafton and High Street multi-storey car parks currently. You may notice that some parking bays are out of use while the work is being done but there should be plenty of spaces available.”

Drivers will be able to pay in cash, by card or by using the MiPermit app at the car park. If they pay using the app, they can extend the length of time they want to stay for without returning to their vehicle.