Putting Bognor Regis regeneration on the global map

A new group has been formed to put the people's views about regeneration on the internet.

A website '“ www.betterbognor.co.uk '“ has been set up to promote the town and views about its future.

It is the first time an independent online presence promoting Bognor's future has been set up. It is the idea of Better Bognor's founder, town centre resident Gary Oakes.

He outlined his intention to provide as much choice as possible for Bognor's regeneration on the Hothamton and Regis Centre sites at the latest meeting of Bognor Regis Civic Society.

Mr Oakes has long been interested in the town's future and wanted to form the new group to complement the civic society's work.

He said: "Once the wrong thing has been built, we have had it. That's why this is so vital. We want to have something more like Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth than the East Bank in Littlehampton. I don't see much sign of regeneration over there."

The idea for Better Bognor came from the exhibition by developer St Modwen in the town last January followed by a public meeting.

The formation of the BRighter Bognor group acted as a further spur. He described that group as representing a minority of residents

Better Bognor has already 38 members from word of mouth comments. Membership will be through e-mail rather than regular meetings.

"The internet is a very powerful tool to get a message across quickly," he stated. A section of the website would display the regeneration ideas of the group's members.

The beliefs of Better Bognor were to harness the resources of St Modwen to attract new wealth to the town by creating a wide range of new and good-quality all-year round attractions.

Allied to these must be high-quality offices in addition to those earmarked for the county council.

This would bring more wealth into the town and attract more retailers. But the changes could only be achieved by a carefully-planned and convenient road system to serve the town.

The idea of flats to help pay for the widespread changes to the two locations was acceptable away from the Regis Centre.

Mr Oakes said St Modwen and Arun District Council should work with various groups in the town to produce a range of detailed alternatives to the current regeneration proposals. This would provide a proper basis for debate and result in a definitive scheme for final exhibition and comment.

His initial thoughts are to retain the Alexandra Theatre and re-open the Royal Hall, currently The Regis pub/restaurant, to provide an entertainment centre.

"We don't need flats to get commercial development on that site," he stated. A bridge, complete with shops, would be built over The Esplanade to link the town centre with the seafront and still keep traffic flowing.

Cutting the seafront in half to traffic would destroy Bognor, he claimed: "Transport is absolutely key to the town's future. You will be hearing a lot from us about that subject."

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