More community hubs on the way?

A new wave of community hubs could be created across West Sussex.

West Sussex County Council is looking to bring more services under one roof and the first location where this is happening is Worthing Library.

The new community hub would be a one-stop centre which would also house children and family services and registration services.

Following a written question by Labour’s Chris Oxlade, the county council confirmed viability assessments were completed for East Preston, Rustington, Southbourne, Bognor Regis and Crawley.

The answer said: “A number of the locations identified within the initial business case have been found to be unsuitable for a bespoke community hub at this stage for a variety of reasons.”

Engagement with county council services has identified three locations have potential as community hubs and will be ‘pursued further’. These are Petworth, Pulborough and East Preston.

A strategic outline business case is currently being prepared to take these through the capital programme and to ask for the allocation of feasibility funding.

The council says there are still opportunities to bring more services under one roof in Crawley and Bognor Regis.

When completed Burgess Hill Library will have more services, while recent smallscale improvements in Hurstpierpoint and Henfield ‘present potential for enhancing the offer to local communities’.

The first community hub in the county is planned in Worthing