WORTHING’S Teville Gate is now closed to everyone as work to demolish the multi-storey car park gathers pace.

To ensure public safety, contractors from Worthing Borough Council has been erecting hoardings around the high-profile town centre plot in recent weeks.

From Monday, the site off Teville Road has been shut to pedestrians which will allow detailed surveying work to take place ahead of the planned demolition in March.

The closure includes the walkway through the centre of the Teville site and the underpass, which links the station and car park to the Morrisons superstore.

Notices informing members of the public of the closure are being placed around the site with alternative routes clearly signposted.

The local authority believes the demolition of the car park will act as a catalyst for the private company which owns the site to carry out a wider regeneration of the area.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “While we acknowledge that there will be some disruption for local residents, we hope they understand that this is all about bringing real change to an area which has been derelict for far too long.

“The council regularly receives complaints about antisocial behaviour in the area. By demolishing the site we want to inject some much-needed impetus into the redevelopment of this eyesore site.

“Meanwhile we will continue to keep working with Mosaique, who own the site, to bring forward the long overdue renaissance of this area of Worthing.”

The council has a long-term lease on the car park.