Alcohol recovery and homeless centre

The Worthing Churches Homeless Projects charity has confirmed it is planning to buy Whitcomb House in Selden Road, East Worthing, currently a residential home.

The site has been identified as a possible location for the Recovery Project once Guild Care completes its new residential home at Lindfield Court and moves residents from Whitcomb House.

The project will provide 12 beds compared with the 33 which are presently available in the property.

Other areas of the building will be used to provide life skills training, group work, health care and quiet areas for personal reflection.

The charity has already raised 1.1m of the 1.8m needed to secure the property and run the project for three years. Work could start as early as next spring.

General manager, Tony Chasteauneuf< NO1>(COR)< NO> said: "We are pleased to say that we are in discussions with Guild Care with regard to the purchase of Whitcomb House.

"We have yet to finalise key details but our plans are progressing. As we move forward in our discussions we will take the opportunity to meet our neighbours and invite them to see our work and discuss our plans.

"We like to develop a warm and open relationship with all those who live near any of our projects. Our wish is to be open and honest at all levels. We welcome questions and with the assistance of Tim Loughton, MP for the area alongside councillors we will be able to provide every reassurance to neighbours regarding any concerns they may have."

Full story in West Sussex Gazette, November 17 2005