Worthing café owner’s fears as social distancing road closure affects deliveries

Sarah Hill, who runs Café Montague in Montague Place, said vehicles could not park close enough to drop off supplies – including from charities they supported.

She said they would be forced to close when their supplies ran out: “It does not need to be closed and it is further killing our town.”

The rules began on June 18 and are expected to last for 18 months. On June 2, Sarah received a letter from Worthing Borough Council saying that ‘access will be maintained for deliveries and waste collection’.

But she claimed this has not happened, adding: “Why are the traders and residents of Montague Place being singled out by the council?”

Suspending disabled and motorcycle parking bays outside the café which were used by regulars – including from the Bognor Regis and Brighton Harley-Davidson clubs – had ‘severely affected their business’, she said.

During lockdown, the café fed homeless people staying at the Chatsworth Hotel for the council – but this income has ended and Sarah had to let staff go as turnover was 60 per cent down due to Covid.

They have sent food boxes to the needy with charities FareShare and UKHarvest, who delivered produce: but this has also been put under strain due to the road change.

She said neighbouring businesses Subway, Porto’s Flowers and Royal Beijing had been similarly affected.

In response, a council spokesman said the road closure would ‘ensure the safety of traders and visitors to the town centre’ and allow businesses to trade outdoors.

During the closure, they said disabled badge holders could use ‘pay and display, limited waiting and shared use bays free and without time limit around the town centre’ adding that deliveries could be made from a loading bay on Marine Parade.