Asda refusal: YOUR views

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Here are just some of your views:

Why is Arun District council so intent on killing off Bognor Regis?

There is no investment in towns without the prospect of new jobs and quite frankly the council's constant refusal to allow such a high profile company as Asda into Bognor is not only ignorant, stupid and stubborn but also totally against what the overwhelming majority of Bognor's population wants.

So along comes Sainsburys '“ which the overwhelming majority doesn't want and they seem to get some sort of fastracked permission.

Asda will facilitate the creation of many jobs both in the construction of the site and also the running of the business park and the store itself.

Now call me cynical '“ but people aren't going to travel in to Bognor Regis town centre unless they live here. So how many people also work in Bognor Regis?

A journey in the morning in any direction out of Bognor will confirm that more people work out of town than in.

We need jobs in Bognor, we need big companies in Bognor, then just maybe more people will start spending money in town, and more large retailers will be attracted to what is currently a very unattractive prospect!

Its about time the council pulled its finger out and actually did something that the public want, instead of ignoring us!!

John Bufton

It should have been no surprise that Arun planning committee rejected the proposed Adsa store application.

I had hoped that the views and wishes of many local residents and business organisations would be considered.

No doubt the 11 counsellors who voted against the scheme will hide behind red tape and a local planning policy which was passed years ago and has still not been implemented upon.

This was an opportunity to give this area a much needed boost and I think a little bit of common sense and flexibly should have been applied.

It seems that these attributes were unavailable to these counsellors who can only rule within strict dogmatic guidelines.

The decision to reject this project has sent a clear message to other major retailers considering investment in the area to think again.

By accepting and agreeing with the comments and objections put forward by planning officer Wheway they have voted themselves into a corner.

How can the planning office and these councillors now vote in favour of any similar proposals, such as the Sainsbury's application?

To do so would fill the air with the stench of collusion and double standards.

Last Thursdays vote may have put the regeneration of the area back years, and for that they should hang their heads in shame.

I hope their local residents remember their actions and show them how wrong they were come next election time.

Dennis Bridger

Well we will know who to not vote for in the next elections and what have rustington and barnham and all the other so called councilors have against Bognor do they hope that by voting against bognor that asda will take there jobs and money closer to them.

P Cain

I am devastated that the councillors have dealt another bad blow to Bognor, stopping change, which is so much needed to help Bognor become great again.

Recession, hardship and misery may well be part of all our lives in 2009.

Bognor has a large, global company wishing to build and trade in the town, creating jobs and attracting new people to Bognor. How lucky are we to have the interest of this company and how dare Arun District Council deny us this?

I hope and pray that Asda will appeal and take it further and higher into government if Arun council do not change.

If the reason that we cannot have Asda is because it will affect Morrisons and the town centre, that means we can never have new stores which will encourage more people into Bognor.

The council is so negative and are not rising to the challenge of new and different ways to enhance Bognor town centre.

Well, of course, there's no point in Sainsbury's putting in an application, as it will affect Morrisons and the town centre. Or is Sainsbury's a different case and, if so, why?

Jan Malpas

ADC have missed a golden opportunity to improve Bognor Regis and bring more trade/business into the town by the refusal to grant planning permission for ASDA.

I see it was opposed by members of ADC who do not live in the immediate area.

It is what the members of the public wanted and a vast majority of ADC.

K Jay

As a Bognor Regis resident for the last 15 years I consider the rejection of the Asda proposal to be a seriously flawed decision that raises many questions.

Firms like Tesco and Morrison are all in favour of competition until their feet are under the table when they reverse their opinion. One only has to compare petrol prices at Tesco Bognor and Chichester in recent months to see why.

I believe that small shops in the town centre would be little affected by the Asda proposal if they provide a decent level of personal service. If they fail to do so we should be better off without them.

Many of the councillors involved in this decision live and represent voters miles from Bognor who would be little affected either way; eg; people living at East Preston and Findon have easy access to the Brighton Asda.

Bognor suffers from its location at one extremity of the district.

It would be interesting to know precisely who voted against this proposal and which wards they represent.

If any of those against are from Bognor we may make our feelings known via the ballot box. I notice that the district council has not yet seen fit to publish this information on its website.

How much influence has the Modwen pressure group had on this decision?

We need to know what went on at the closed meeting where the conclusion seems to have been stitched up.

Apparently, some members of the council cannot stomach the idea that within Arun the residents of Bognor should have the major say in matters which affect Bognor.

Change will come whether they wish it or not: with their reactionary attitude it may well be for the worse but if they do not have a local connection why should they care?

Colin Hewson

These councillors, should remember when the time comes for re-election, we will remember them, we have a plethora of council members but only a paucity of common sense for the ones who voted against the proposal, a great lose for Bognor.

Michael Morris MBE

If the council is so worried about having another superstore (Which seems clearly wanted by the residents of Bognor) Get rid of Tesco.

There is one in Littlehampton, Chicester and about 4 Tesco Expresses around Bognor. How is it that Tesco can have 5 stores in one town and ASDA is not allowed 1 store in all of West Sussex. It seems suspicious to me

Pete K

Well, well, well how difficult was it to of foreseen this decision on ASDA by Arun DC now watch the speed that Sainsbury get the nod and once again completely against the wishes of the majority.

Local voters wont let them forget this latest fiddle in a hurry.

Ron Flatt

Regarding the planning meeting last night, it is unbelievable that ASDA, a NEW retailer offering to invest in Bognor has been turned down by Arun.

The council appeared to be most concerned that policies set some years ago would not be adhered to and clearly at the meeting all councillors were pressured to reject the application regardless of public support.

If policies are set by the council then it is in question whether these policies meet the needs of Bognor.

If it was a policy issue then why did it take almost a year to come to that conclusion, it demonstrates council indecision or a serious lack of knowledge on their part.

There was a flood of support for ASDA giving many many reasons why they should approve the application.

I will continue my primary grocery shopping at ASDA Havant, Secondary shopping at Tesco Extra, Chichester and ad hoc shopping at Tesco Express Aldwick.

I am afraid Bognor has very little to offer and with the current negative approach by this council we cannot expect any improvement in the forseeable future.

I am totally dissatisfied with the Arun decision and their inefficiency in coming to a conclusion.

Malcolm Jones

Listening to the recent discussion, two of the criteria for any new developement were stated as '“ to bring people into the area to shop and visit, and to provide a credible alternative to shopping in Tesco.

Firstly there is a Sainsbury's in Chichester and Rustington so why would people come to Bognor to shop at Sainsbury's?

With Asda at Havant and Brighton an Asda at Bognor would bring people in to the area and provide true competition to the existing Tesco store.

As for the town centre it is doubtful that the parking would be able to cope with a large supermarket unless the entire centre was concreted over.

So far I have listened to and read about developers who have wanted to build or create real improvements to the town only to be told by the planning committee that it is not in the best interests of the area, when will this committee get their fingers out of their backsides and come up with a truly co-ordinated plan for the area?

Lets hope its before it's too late.

Grahame Carter

Having Asda and Sainsburys and Tesco in the same area will possibly encourage more large retailers to this area and make Bognor an interesting shopping venue.

Trevor Marshall

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