The display, at Shoreham library, in St Mary's Road, Shoreham, raises concerns over several historic buildings in the area which now stand empty and boarded up.

Tony Vinicombe, of the Shoreham Society, said "We thought there were a lot of major concerns that the Shoreham public ought to have information about in more detail."

St Mary's Church hall, the old workhouse buildings near Southlands Hospital, Kingston Barn, the Halcyon Centre, the old police station and the original town hall are the buildings featured in the display.

Southlands development

Michael Norman, chairman of the Shoreham Society's town development sub-committee, said: "Our major concern is the Southlands development.

"A few years ago, the council created a conservation area in the old workhouse area of Southlands hospital, so they obviously thought it was worth protecting.

"Then English Partnerships came in and, since then, nothing has happened.

"All the lead tiles have been stolen off the roof and the temporary repairs they put up have been blown away.

Features ruined

"The weather is going straight into the buildings and so the features that were supposed to be conserved are being ruined.

"There have been no tiles on the roof for several years and it's going to get to the point when it's not worth saving any more."

The land around the workhouse was made into a conservation area in 1993.

Although the buildings are scheduled to become part of a new residential estate, the developers, Crest Nicholson, and the owners, English Partnerships, have said some existing buildings of "historic and architectural merit" will be retained.

Preserve character

The Shoreham Society argues this would help provide much-needed new homes while also being a welcome piece of Shoreham conservation.

Mr Norman said: "We want to see this town's character preserved for everyone's sake – it's good for business, it's good for property values and it's good for tourism."

The society also raises the question of whether or not the town is better off without these buildings.

Heart of town

The Halcyon Centre, in Tarmount Lane, was used by elderly and disabled residents for socialising and activities – it is now closed.

The old police station, also in Tarmount Lane, was used by the voluntary social services – it is now closed.

The original town hall houses a valuable sprung dance floor – it is now closed.

Members of the Shoreham Society say there are buildings in the heart of the old town conservation area which are boarded-up and vacant, with no immediate plans for their use.

Derelict areas

They claim this makes the conservation area less attractive to businesses and that the same dereliction that has afflicted Southlands Hospital will recur in the old town area.

One poster in the exhibition bears the slogan "Is this what we want for our town?" Bronwen Vinicombe, of the Shoreham Society, said: "To let our heritage go is just scandalous.

"The most worrying thing about this is that everyone is passing the buck.

"The leader of the council has said that it is nothing to do with them, English Partnerships have been quite evasive and we feel Crest Nicholson are fobbing us off."

The Shoreham Society is hoping to add to the exhibition and display it in different venues in the town in the coming months.

What do you think?

How concerned are you by the closed buildings throughout Shoreham?

Does it make the town look run-down?

What would you like to see happen with these old buildings?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Shoreham Herald series, Readers' Letters, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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