This has helped to accelerate the rate at which "To Let" notices have increased over the past year.

And angry traders say the combined effects of costly business rates, corporation tax, higher general overheads and parking problems have made the situation worse.

Town centre manager Sharon Clarke told the Herald Worthing was suffering from a lack of new store chains because the present retail units available just weren't big enough.

"The trouble is, Worthing's older-style premises don't meet the needs of large, modern retailers," she said.

"A lot of businesses who would like to relocate and have a store in Worthing, can't find suitable premises."

Masterplan vision

Mrs Clarke said there is insufficient external waste-storage facilities available in the present retail set-up, and these companies did not find it acceptable to use expensive in-building space just to store rubbish.

She anticipated this would be addressed by the Masterplan vision for an enhanced retail core in Worthing.

In the meantime, the Town Centre Initiative would be encouraging smaller, independent retailers to set up business in the town, and make things easier for those already here.

"We are trying to promote independent shops in Worthing, and we have many successful ones. It is these which are needed to differentiate the town from other places, " she explained.

"We have some concern over vacant premises in the area west of The Body Shop in Montague Street.

"Many shoppers are reluctant to venture past The Body Shop, although the Wednesday market and farmers' market do help to increase shoppers' footfall in the area.

"We are thinking of masking those empty shop windows with pictures of old Worthing, or something similar, to make the area more attractive.

"In fact, in the town centre as a whole, I am optimistic that our initiatives and the events we are holding will help to get people to regard Worthing as their preferred shopping location."

National issues

Mrs Clarke said other town centre managers had told her their towns were also facing the results of people having less money to spend because of the credit crunch and higher food, petrol and utility costs.

Dan Thompson, of Worthing's Revolutionary Arts Group, said: "It's certainly a worry that there are so many empty units, that the bigger businesses seem to be steering clear of Worthing, and that the only strategy the powers-that-be can come up with is 'build even more shops'.

"The flipside is that small, creative and independent businesses are doing really well.

"One of our artists now runs a craft shop in Warwick Street; another has taken the lease on the café at Splash Point and we'll be opening a gallery and craft centre in the east tower there soon.

"Perhaps there's an upside to the big businesses staying away – it leaves an opening for small businesses to return to the high street and make it local again.

"In fact, the Warwick Lane area is becoming like The Lanes in Brighton."

What do you think?

Is Worthing in retail crisis?

What type of shops would you like to see in Worthing?

Share your views, comment in the space below, email or write in to Readers'Letters', Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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