Backing for Bognor's bid for its own council

Chamber of commerce president and chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson said Bognor deserved better than having Arun District Council to control its future.

"We need our own council for the town to provide improved public services and also value for money," he said. "This will make control of Bognor more responsive, effective and effective.

"We feel the district council has consistently given scant attention to the wishes and aspirations of Bognor's residents and businesses.

"Bognor receives hardly any promotion for its unique offer and is treated very

much like the poor relative of the area.

"It is a widely-held view Arun is a far too large organisation and covers a far too extensive geographical area to properly represent Bognor's businesses and residents.

"The chamber is the strong voice of businesses in and around Bognor.

"On many issues, such as the Asda proposals for Bognor, the chamber knows it also represents the feelings of the majority of residents as well as businesses."

He said the former Bognor Regis Urban District Council ran successfully, with some faults, until 1974.