Brooklands Park

Latest on the clean up after the diesel spill near Brooklands below.....

Teams from Adur & Worthing Councils were alerted to an incident on Lancing Business Park this morning (May 29, 2019) which has seen a large quantity of diesel spill from a tanker.
Despite a prompt response from a range of authorities, unfortunately some of this diesel has already reached the nearby Brooklands Lake through surface water drains.
We are still working to assess the full impact of this incident. Our teams continue to work with the Environment Agency and West Suss...ex Fire & Rescue Service to limit the spread of the pollution to the lake and adjoining Teville Stream.
Specialist contractors have also been called in to skim the lake and reduce the impact on any wildlife in the area.
The exact impact of this incident will not be known for some time. But we will continue to work with and support the authorities to ensure the causes are thoroughly investigated.
We also ask for patience from members of the public visiting the area in the coming days and assure them that we remain committed to the wider transformation of Brooklands Park into an attractive destination for all.
The Environment Agency encourage members of the public to report pollution incidents via its 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 807060.
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Visitors to Brooklands Park this week may have spotted teams from contractors Five Rivers hard at work...
The company, who have been working on behalf of Worthing Borough Council on a major revamp of the lake, returned to carry out some additional planting to the new landscapes.
Teams also created two new 50 metre long revetments - one on middle island and one on southern island - to prevent any further erosion, while an excavator has been used to deepen a section of the lake....
Grass seed has been scattered on bare bits of the islands
The teams will return for further maintenance works in November ahead of the winter season.
The work is part of a wide project to restore this much-loved area to a vibrant haven for wildlife.
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What's happening at Brooklands?
See the video below for the latest at our park...

Almost 20 companies have expressed interest in redeveloping Brooklands Park as the next stage of its revival kicks into gear.
The companies are looking to help Worthing Borough Council return the famous landmark to its iconic ‘jewel in the crown’ status to create a new £2m Science Adventure Park with the emphasis on learning through fun, play and exploration.
Key features and benefits of the regeneration will include a new cafe and lakeside picnicking area at the heart of the... park along with improved walks and fitness trails, areas for outdoor events and community activities, community gardens and an adventure play area.
An indoor leisure activity centre in the south west corner of the park is also outlined to ensure it remains an attractive destination all year round.
The deadline for submissions for the redevelopment has not yet passed and council officials are expecting more interest to emerge.
In the meantime remedial work is set to begin to clear the park of all remaining structures and materials left from its previous incarnation. Within the next two months buildings are to be removed as is the red railway bridge. Wildflower sowing will take place to return the park to a natural state ahead of the development works which should start early next year.
Also, Five Rivers Environmental Contracting Ltd, which revived the lake last year, is returning next month for stage two of the works, strengthening mid lake islands, planting reed beds and reviewing boardwalks and defences. Wildfowl are returning to the lake which has been thoroughly dredged and redesigned but another two periods of work from Five Rivers is needed to set the lake up to self sustain into the future.
Worthing Borough Council’s Brooklands Project Manager Gary Prescod said: "We’ve had to let things settle down a bit and I understand why people might think nothing has happened since we launched the masterplan. However I want to assure people they we are just about to go to phase two and start clearing up the park while we assess the proposals to build us a beautiful park for future generations to enjoy."
It is hoped work will begin on new features next year. The masterplan also envisages an adventure playground, community gardens, outdoor education and den building area, enhanced planting of shrubs and flowers and pond life exploration. An iconic vertical feature, such as a sculpture or wind turbine, has also been suggested.
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Look who's returned to Brooklands Park! 🦢
For years swans were a familiar sight at Worthing's premier pleasure park and now after the lake was given a complete revamp they have returned.
On a specially built island in the middle of the lake a swan has made her new nest and laid her future cygnets to the delight of local residents and visitors alike.
... With a boardwalk being included in the works that finished last year, visitors can now get a ringside view as the new family settle in to their new home.
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Visitors to Brooklands may have noticed that the water levels are higher than usual for this time of year.
This is because of a mechanical issue with the outfall at the southern end of the lake in Brighton Road.
A failure with the flap, which is designed to prevent seawater from entering the lake at high tide, means that the sea is flowing in and increasing water levels.
... Engineers visited the site as soon as a report was received and contractors are due to attend site later today to inspect the area, when the tide levels allow.
We want to assure residents that the potential impact on birds, fish and other wildlife by incidents like this are low. Our teams will continue to monitor the situation.
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Please note that the water level in Brooklands lake will be lowered this week - details below.

Work to brighten up Brooklands continues with contractors ensuring the lake at the heart of the popular park is fighting fit for the winter months.
Hear from Ben Sharp, Site Manager with Five Rivers Environmental Contracting Ltd, in the video below as he discusses the recent works and gives a general overview of our park...

Work to brighten up Worthing’s Brooklands Park continues with contractors ensuring the lake at the heart of the popular park is fighting fit for the winter months.
Freezing temperatures and high winds have not halted progress on carrying the latest round of improvements to the Worthing Borough Council-owned open space.
Contractors returned to park in Brighton Road last week to plant some of the islands and carry out essential maintenance, which required the temporary lowering... of water levels.
Teams have also used the time to tend to some of the vegetation and rebuild a section of the Teville Stream bank to combat potential erosion.
It is the culmination of a year of progress at the park, which has seen environmental works completed at the lake, a new boardwalk installed and a wider masterplan for the whole park published after input from more than 800 residents.
The masterplan was revealed in October with the Council revealing its ambition to turn the space into a science adventure park.
Since then, work has been ongoing to draw up detailed proposals, go out to tender to appoint contractors and secure funding to pay for a list of features. An update on this is due in the New Year.
Cllr. Edward Crouch, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Digital & Environmental Services, said: “It has been a year of real progress at Brooklands.
“I want to thank once again the excellent team at Five Rivers who have really transformed the lake, turning it into a fantastic place for wildlife to thrive.
“I'm confident that 2019 will be just as exciting as we push on with our wider ambition to ensure Brooklands is a regional destination for people of all ages.”
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Water levels in Brooklands Lake are currently low due to planned maintenance work to repair a section of stream bank in the Teville Stream.
Sluice boards that control water levels have been temporarily lowered and will be restored later this week once works are complete, when water levels will quickly return to normal.

The latest edition of Adur & Worthing Councils Building AW magazine features a 10-page Brooklands special!
It includes:
🌱an interview with Adrienne Soudain, a landscape architect at Chris Blandford Associates who helped developed the masterplan
... 🌱an overview of how the regeneration is a boost for health, wellbeing and wildlife
🌱a detailed map and outline of the masterplan
Read Building AW in full below 👇
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We're sorry to say that winter is on its way... ☀️🔜🌧️❄️
But as well as near freezing temperatures being forecast, heavy rain is also likely.
To make sure Brooklands Lake is fully prepared for everything winter can throw at it we're lowering the water levels.
... Next week, teams working on behalf of Worthing Borough Council will start reducing water levels by 300mm.
This essential work will provide an increased water storage capacity in the lake for the next few months.
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It's a new dawn for Brooklands Park as the rejuvenation has the potential to turn the much-loved open space into a “regional destination”, say leading environment-shaping company Chris Blandford Associates. 🌳🌳🌳
Ther are 10 pages dedicated to Brooklands Park in the latest edition Building AW, Adur & Worthing Councils' online magazine! Read it in full, here: http://adwb.co/BxofZ

The wait is over.....💚🌳💚
A £2 million masterplan for the complete revival of Worthing's Brooklands Park has been revealed.
Working with leading environment-shaping company Chris Blandford Associates, Worthing Borough Council's proposal is to create a new Science Adventure Park with the emphasis on learning through fun, play and exploration.
... With the lake freshly revived after nine months hard work, the next stage is to move towards a coherent feel for the entire area.
The vision has been developed after input from more than 800 residents. The Friends of Brooklands Park have also been actively engaged in the process.
Key features and benefits of the regeneration will include a new cafe and lakeside picnicking area at the heart of the park along with improved walks and fitness trails, areas for outdoor events and community activities, community gardens and an adventure play area.
An indoor leisure activity centre in the south west corner of the park is also outlined to ensure it remains an attractive destination all year round.
Full details: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/news/pr1 8-180.html
To see the masterplan in full, visit: https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/brooklan ds-park-masterplan/
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A reminder that the masterplan for the transformation of Brooklands Park will be revealed at a public meeting TONIGHT (Thursday 11th October).
Two identical presentations will be delivered: at 6pm – 7:15pm, and again at 7:45pm – 9pm. This is to help maximise the opportunity for residents to see the proposed vision.
More details ➡️ https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/news/pr1 8-177.html

📸 Brooklands Lake gleaming in the Autumn sunshine

Combine a newly restored Brooklands Lake with a sensational sunset and it makes a view like this... 😍
Local photographer Kevin Long took this amazing picture of our lake, now looking stunning after its restoration, on Monday evening.
Don't forget that a public meeting to hear about the masterplan for the whole Park takes place at the Richmond Room, Worthing Town Hall on Thursday October 11.
... There are two sessions one at 6pm to 7:15pm and again at 7:45pm to 9pm
We hope to see you there!
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