Valued Tamarisk Centre to close doors at end of month

Age UK, which has run activities for older residents at the Beach Road facility since 2006, will leave the premises shortly before the lease expires.

Instead, the charity will run activities at new venues across the east of the district in the new year.

Arun District Council agreed on Monday to extend its partnership with Age UK until 2018, providing up to £173,773 to continue services after the Tamarisk closes.

Arun leader Gill Brown said: “It is really good news. We will have three outlets in the area instead of one and we are continuing a great partnership working with Age UK.”

Age UK has yet to release full details of the new arrangements – but a report to councillors indicated it had reached an agreement to hire St Mary’s church hall, in Church Street, Littlehampton Chilgrove House, in Wick and the Laurels Centre, in Angmering for sessions.

Dates and times are expected to be released by the charity shortly.

The new arrangement was welcomed by East Preston councillor and cabinet member Ricky Bower.

He said: “I think extending the services outside of Littlehampton for the East Arun community will be only a benefit and will ensure that some of those who, up until now, have not been able to get to the centre, will be able to partake in services in the future.”

Arun had hoped to include its day centres in a West Sussex County Council tender for a ‘joined-up’ service across the county.

But county’s timetable has been delayed, with progress not expected until 2018.

Officers said the county tender would provide the best long-term outcome but extending the current arrangement until March 2018 would maintain continuity.