Popular roundabout of 23 years to be dropped

A ROUNDABOUT that has been a permanent fixture in Worthing town centre for 23 years looks set to be removed after an unpopular decision by retail managers.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Dec 2014, 16:24 BST
Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001
Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001

The privately-owned Montague Centre have served notice on ‘Mr Worthing’, Dave Hunt, to remove his colourful merry-go-round by mid- January.

The decision, made after the centre changed hands, caused outcry on social media as generations of residents expressed their shock at the decision.

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Mr Hunt said: “We have made a lot of friends on that corner and original customers are now bringing their own children down to go on it.

Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001
Dave Hunt and Mo Holmes, who helps run the roundabout, which will leave the Montague Centre after 23 years SUS-141217-085920001

“The centre has been taken over by a new company and they have got plans and don’t really see the roundabout as part of its future, which is sad, bearing in mind the public support it has got. It’s a sad day.”

Ian Goodridge, regional centre manager for Workman, managing the centre on behalf of new owners New River Retail, said the notice was served before he took over. He added some retailers indicated the attraction blocked their lines of sight.

Mr Hunt reached a compromise yesterday which will allow him to operate other attractions at weekends and other specified times but the roundabout takes too long to put up to make a comeback.