Council's Help Point remains open

In the meantime Adur Civic Centre remains open and residents can access Help Point services there Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Adur Council leader Neil Parkin is keen to reassure people the Ham Road site is still up and running.

He said: “We are still here, still open for business until the new place is complete. The services available here will transfer to the new site, without a break.”

In January, preparation works begin on the old Citizens Advice Bureau huts, prior to demolition in February.

Building on the extension to the Shoreham Centre, in Pond Road, will then begin in April and take 10 to 12 months.

Jane Palmer heads up a team of four on the Help Point at the Civic Centre, in Ham Road.

She said: “Very little has changed, Adur District Council customers can visit the Help Point to deal with enquiries on revenue and benefits,for environmental health services and to view current planning applications.

“If someone wants to speak to an officer face to face, we can arrange an appointment. For Adur Homes tenants, we can report repairs, chase up repairs and contact the maintenance team. We can also help people access county council services.”

The cash facility went at the end of last year but people can still go into the Civic Centre to pay by debit card.

The only other thing that has changed is the housing needs team has recently moved to Portland House in Worthing.

“People used to be able to present here as homeless but now they have to go to Worthing to do that,” Jane explained.

“Once they are registered in the system, they can get further help in Shoreham.”

For the first time, the Help Point will remain open over the Christmas period, apart from the bank holidays.

Adur Civic Centre is no longer on the market, while the council decides its future.

Mr Parkin said: “We are actively looking at doing other things, which include the possibility of knocking it down and building flats in partnership to get a revenue stream for the council.

“We are working towards receiving no government grants by 2020 and there is a demand for high-quality rental accommodation in Shoreham because of the businesses around here.”