Other areas urged to hold poll on Bognor regeneration

Thousands of Bognor voters were expected to turn out between 4pm and 9pm to have their say about the town's future.

The referendum gave electors in the Marine, Pevensey, Orchard and Hotham wards around the town centre a vote on four aspects of the regeneration proposals.

Local government electoral laws means anyone outside that central area must organise a poll for their parish. This can be achieved through a show of hands at a specially held electors' meeting.

Roger Nash said: "People should call polls for Felpham, Aldwick, Bersted and Middleton if they want to. That will ensure that everyone has their say."

Last night's poll took place in the usual Bognor polling stations with the exception of the Friary Arms in Shripney Road replacing the University of Chichester's Assembly Hall.

A total of 16,257 were eligible to vote. They voted 'yes' or 'no' to aspects of the St Modwen plans for the Regis Centre and Hothamton sites. They included the number of flats on the seafront, the retention of the Regis Centre and the closure of the seafront. Electors had to vote in person. No posting or proxy voting was allowed. Mr Nash said before the vote: "I am hoping for as good a turnout as possible. The more people who go out to the vote the more credibility the poll will have.

"The greater the number who take part the more notice that Arun District Council and St Modwen will have to take of the poll."

The poll was funded by Bognor Regis Town Council at a cost of about 12,000.

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