Bird’s eye view for Bognor shoppers

Toyubur Rahman with the scaffolding being built for Aerial Birdman DM157455a

Final preparations are being made to the town centre’s first Aerial Birdman event.

This will see the flyers soar 15m above the London Road precinct along a 150m zip wire on Saturday and Sunday.

The departure point is outside Game and the landing area in front of Santander at its southern end.

Town centre manager Toyubur Rahman devised the initiative to provide a different experience.

“Now the scaffolding is going up, it looks real and actually about to happen,” said Mr Rahman. “The scaffolders have said you can see the sea from the top of the take off site.

“So, it really is a unique view of the town. It’s not every day you get the chance to do this.”

Flyers will be in one of three types of harnesses as they zoom along the rooftops for their flight at speeds of up to 30mph.

Some 140 flights tickets had been sold by Monday. Mr Rahman recommended anyone interested should book up at www.aerialbirdman.co.uk rather than just turn up. Flights cost from £29.

“The tickets are selling thick and fast now the event is getting near,” he said. “People are taking part for all sorts of reasons. Some are afraid of flying. Others want to raise money for charity.”

Firms like Butlin’s, Boots, Costa, Superdrug and Mobility and Comfort have also booked slots.

“The important thing is to get people talking about the town centre and this event seems to have achieved that,” said Mr Rahman. “It’s all about driving footfall into the shopping area and getting people off their computers.

“I said when I was appointed I wanted people to leave the town centre with a smile on their faces. The Aerial Birdman will certainly achieve that.”

His idea gained the backing of government minister Mark Francois when he visited last week.

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