WORK on a major upgrade to improve access to Worthing’s car parks is well underway.

As part of multi-million pound investment in its town centre multi-storeys, Worthing Borough Council’s contractors have begun installing new lifts in the Buckingham Road car park.

It comes as prices to park in many of the town’s car parks are set to increase.

Local authority leaders took the decision to replace the two 50-year-old elevators after a series of malfunctioning problems in recent months.

The £211,000 work, which will also see the lift entrances widened to allow easy access for those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs, is expected to be complete by summer.

It is one of the first steps in a three-year car park investment programme which is being paid for by a number of increases to tariffs at some of the council car parks expected to come into force on January 18.

Councillor Diane Guest, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for environment, who recently visited the site to see how the installation was progressing, said: “I’m delighted to see our investment in the town’s multi-storeys is already having a positive impact.

“Our car parks are quite often the first impression that visitors have of Worthing so it’s vital that they they are welcoming, modern, safe and accessible for all.

“These new lifts are just the start of a much-needed investment programme which will have wide reaching benefits for the town centre. I’m looking forward to seeing it progress.”

Work on the new lifts began just before Christmas.

It will be phased so that one lift is operating at all times to ensure that those with mobility issues can continue to access the car park.