Asda's final touches tostore plan

The company said its application, and the low prices available in its new branch, would be a Christmas present to Bognor's residents.

The store and business park is proposed for Oldlands Farm, next to the A29 Shripney Road.

The formal planning application for the 30m development is set to be submitted by Asda to Arun District Council once the festive lull is over.

The store will create about 500 new jobs as well as providing the services needed to fulfil Arun's hopes of a business park on the site.

Asda claims its presence in Bognor will stop many local people travelling elsewhere to do their weekly grocery shopping.

The company said customers' bank balances would also benefit from its store because of its status of having the lowest supermarket prices for ten years in a row.

Asda development manager Barney Harle said: 'Opening a store in Bognor will not only provide hundreds of local jobs, keep people shopping locally and deliver a new business park but will also help make the good things in life more affordable.'