Bognor Regis MP backs residents' concerns

Mr Gibb, who represents the town and Littlehampton, said the issue had prompted people to express their worries to him.

Shutting The Esplanade between Waterloo Square and Clarence Road, as developer St Modwen proposes, would cut off a main east-west traffic route through the town, he stated.

It was also unclear what year-round benefits the move would bring. Creating a pedestrian plaza to link the Place St Maur to the seafront was fine in the summer, but posed questions about the purpose for the rest of the year.

"We don't have nice sunny days for eight months of the year," he said. "There's a risk at those times that the plaza will become an area where youths congregate away from any traffic and it becomes a magnet for anti-social behaviour."

Mr Gibb stated he also had concerns about the 30-storey tower block planned for the Hothamton site.

He said: "I'm not sure that's in keeping with the rest of the town. But no-one has contacted me about that. I imagine they are making their views known through the consultation process."

One of the individuals behind last week's town poll, Jan Cosgrove, urged Mr Gibb to speak out about the regeneration ideas.

"Bognor is one of the main population centres of his constituency.

"He's had plenty to say about the Ford eco-town and I can understand why, even though that's outside his constituency. Surely, he's got something to say about St Modwen's proposals?"

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP