Derek Deedman

The current location of the Register Office for the District at the Horsham Old Town Hall has been less than ideal, not least because of the very poor access arrangements and there had been a proposal to move the facility to Park House in Horsham. However there is now a much cheaper option as the County Council has purchased the former Insurance Office building ‘Parkside’ which it is now renovating to become ‘County Hall North’ to re-house the County Offices in the area in one building.

Despite this option, instead of relocating the Register Office to the new ‘County Hall North’, which already provides impressive accommodation, including the banqueting suite, which may be made available for wedding receptions by a future restaurant franchisee, the Tories are sticking to their original plans to move the Office to Park House!

Lib Dem Morwen Millson, Leader of the Opposition on the County Council, has asked the Tory Cabinet Member making the decision how much will be paid to Horsham District Council for the accommodation at Park House, and what arrangements will be made for reserving parking for weddings. She pointed out that the adjacent District Council car park is a public pay and display car park.

The County Council has a modern Registrar’s Office at Centenary House Worthing for the Worthing area, why not a similar Office in Horsham? And, since ‘County Hall North’ is just a short step away from Park House the excellent planted and maintained gardens there could still be used for post wedding ceremony photographs.  

It will be a disgrace if the Tories press ahead with renting office facilities at Park House instead of using the excellent facilities which will be available at ‘County Hall North’ - at a time of considerable financial pressure on the County Council budget and Council Tax every opportunity should be taken to save money, not waste it!