Clashes over Bognor Regis' future

The town's civic society and BRighter Bognor got together for a lively debate about the correct approach for the town's regeneration proposals.

Some 60 people, about 20 of them BRighter Bognor members, were present at the Royal Norfolk Hotel on Tuesday, April 29, for the often heated discussion.

There was much in common between their views about the town's future. But the differences in opinion caused several outbreaks of bickering.

BRighter Bognor was formed by four individuals in January. It has rapidly grown to 120 supporters on an e-mail network.

One of BRighter Bognor's founders, secretary Jean Coles, said: "We think regeneration is essential.

"But there's no modern day Sir Richard Hotham, there's no benefactor, there's no one with buckets of money, there's no central government money and there's no local government money. Anything the town wants has to be paid for out of profit. If the town loses this chance of regeneration, it will slowly stagnant. Bognor will continue to grow into a dormitory or suburb of Chichester. It will continue to lose its young people to live or work elsewhere. It will continue to lose real shops."

She denied that BRighter Bognor were stooges of Arun District Council or St Modwens.

"We believe regeneration is urgent. We are mostly positive about St Modwen's proposals but that does not mean we are fools," she stressed.

She stated the group questioned St Modwens about its initial proposals. This concerned the height of the buildings for the Regis Centre site, the need to limit the number of flats to those essential to pay for the entertainment and leisure provision and the desire for as many all-weather attractions as possible.

The offices and shopping space on the Hothamton site, the prospect of cheap rents to encourage occupiers and an 'essential' traffic plan for the town had also been raised with the company, she said. The answers were expected at a meeting to be held soon.

Committee member Peter Coles said BRighter Bognor was determined to replace the civic society's 'negativity and suspicion'. "You may think we are doing it wrong. We think some of you are doing it wrong."

But BRighter Bognor's late emergence was questioned by members of the ten-year-old civic society.

Doug Sansom said: "Why wait until three months ago to start the group? We have two groups ostensibly concerned with Bognor's regeneration fighting it out. It's a good case of divide and rule."

Garry Oakes said: "You are entitled to your views and to put them forward. Of course, Arun and St Modwen will cosy up to you if you are on their side."

Civic society deputy chairman Hugh Coster said Bognor's regeneration was so important it deserved to be vigorously scrutinised.

"If the regeneration goes wrong, we'll be creating a hundred year disaster for our children. That's why it's so important to talk about it now. It's simply not good enough to brush it under the carpet.'

But audience member Chris Gillings said: 'There should not be argument. There should be a coming together.'

Dr Andy Clegg, of the University of Chichester, urged both groups to consider the greater good of the town. 'Arun would be having a field day watching us in this room,' he stated. 'They would say, '˜They are fighting among themselves'.'