Improving Southwick Square

We are at the Lancing Youth Hub set up by local boxer Scott Welch. This was a derelict pavilion until Scott took it over and today it has lots of activities and role models for local kids. It keeps them out of trouble, and it's good for their physical and mental health. Scott joins me in this episode.

We used to have a lot of local radio in Sussex, indeed my father used to have a programme on Radio Brighton many years ago, before it became Radio Sussex. Sadly it has been disappearing over the past decades. Well, Regency Radio is a new and exciting outfit on Lancing Business Park and their ambition is to revive local radio and bring it back with a bang. They are already broadcasting at the moment, but hopefully they will succeed in getting a licence which will bring them further into South West Sussex from Worthing all the way down to Chichester. And for us, that will mean more quality local news and content. Jay Jackson runs it, I joined him at the studio.

In the latest episode of my community podcast, I am at Springfield Primary School with headteacher Becky Wycherley. Springfield is a well run, consistently oversubscribed, successful school, with a dedicated team of teachers. However, West Sussex County Council want to merge it with two nearby schools to help reduce surplus school places across Worthing. Listen to the conversation with Becky on why this is bad idea — we need to leave Springfield School alone, it’s doing well and providing excellent education.

The Adur Gateway Community Hub is doing really excellent work for local people, and we are working to make it a permanent fixture in Fishersgate. Meanwhile as part of their Christmas appeal, the team would like toys to put in their gift parcels for local children, so please get in touch with me if you can help! Local resident Jill runs the hub — she joins me in this episode. 

Southwick Square is getting a makeover which will put the space into use and benefit local businesses as well as the residents that use them. I caught up with the leader of Adur District Council Neil Parkin on what’s happening, and when.

I think we can all agree that we can do more to make places like Lancing an attractive place for people to shop, visit and live. We have the energy and the determination on the ground to improve things, and with the right government investment, our communities can fulfil their potential. I joined Councillor Steve Neocleous and Councillor Andy McGregor on Lancing high street to discuss the merits of a Coastal Challenge Fund for our areas — and I will be bringing this up with our new Prime Minister.

The first of my community podcast episodes comes from Chesham House. Chesham House is a real jewel in the community in Lancing — and the community rallied together in a phenomenal effort to save it from permanent closure. I’m joined by local councillor Steve Neocleous and volunteers Angela and Joan — just three people who were integral in its rescue.