Horsham CLP Secretary, Ray Chapman wrote to the West Sussex County Times, to raise concerns about the handling of maintenance works at the Forum.As a result they wrote this story, published on 23rd October 2009.
First impressions count and many of Horsham's visitors are greeted by the 'blot on the landscape' that is the Forum.
That is the view of Horsham Labour Party constituency secretary Ray Chapman, who said Horsham District Council has 'neglected' an area it needs to improve.
"If a visitor to Horsham arrives at the bus station and enters our town from the library side of the Forum the sight of builders Portakabins and a secure cabin is just not acceptable," he said.
"In my view this is more of a blot on the town than the criticism levelled at the Shelley Fountain. The cabins have just celebrated the first anniversary and when sited last summer all the shrubs and plants removed to make way for the cabins were dumped to one side and left to die."
He pointed out a smashed glass safety panel left for 'some considerable time;, paving stones removed for repairs and replaced with concrete and Tarmac and 'unsightly' building materials left in a corner.
"With the council trying to make cuts, is the Forum on the list as some of the repairs and lack of maintenance is very slow?" he asked.
A spokesperson for HDC said: "The original contractor for this work, Carillion, is advising that it will start full repair works to The Forum in February/March 2010 and that it will take most of next year to complete.
"The balustrade glazing will be replaced during these works and the contractors' site set up will remain until the works are completed."