Civic urges last-ditch bid to back Asda plan

The company's planning application for a major store at Oldlands Farm off the A29 in North Bersted is set to be considered by councillors in a fortnight.

Those who belong to the Civic Society should show their support for the retailer, society deputy chairman Hugh Coster said, in the run up to the vote. The number of comments which have been received about applications '“ and a summary of the views expressed '“ is reported to councillors before they formally consider plans.

Mr Coster used the society's latest meeting to repeat his accusation that Arun has delayed Asda's proposals '“ a charge which the council has strongly denied. He said the council was missing the chance to ensure Bognor town centre benefits from the company's arrival on land long earmarked for development as a business park, which Asda has pledged to help develop.

"Everyone is in favour of Asda coming. The only people against the idea is Arun. The district council is doing a great disservice to Bognor. Asda will bring in thousands of people to Bognor from further afield.

"The fact that people from here go to Asda in Havant or Brighton means that shoppers will travel to an Asda in Bognor.

"The fact that Asda are willing to work with us is an opportunity to bring their customers into the town centre to limit the store's impact on the shops there. A park and ride scheme, or a circular bus service to the town centre, will help to attract them into the town

"That could benefit Bognor and would be taking advantage of Asda coming here but it is something that the district council could have latched on to but have failed to do anything about," he continued.

"If Asda appeal against a refusal of their plans, then Arun will have lost the opportunity to put conditions on the approval of Asda such as providing a park and ride service. They are letting that slip through their fingers. We must not let that happen."

Civic chairman Laurie Barnes said the presence of Asda should act as a spur for companies to occupy the business park for which Asda will install the services when its store is built.

"We have lost jobs in Bognor over the years but having Asda there will attract other businesses alongside them. They will help to provide employment for the people who will live in all the new homes we will be getting."

A vote at the Civic Society meeting among the 30 or so members present revealed an overwhelming desire for both Asda and Sainsbury's to be allowed to open in Bognor to break the out of town grocery monopoly of Tesco.

Sainsbury's wants to locate its store on the former Lec factory site. It has promised its formal plans will be submitted to Arun by Christmas. But Mr Coster warned the society was not entirely happy with the initial proposals from the company.

"Sainsbury's wants traffic lights on the southbound dual carriageway of the A29 to provide access into its store.

They also want a traffic light-controlled right turning from the northbound carriageways.

There could also be a traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing on the A29 just south of the Sainsbury's entrance to add further delays to motorists on this key route, he explained.

This continues Civic's argument about Tesco's earlier proposals for traffic lights leading to its store on the other side of the road.

He added: "We have told Sainsbury's that we don't want to be obstructive. If they come, that's fine for the town and not at the expense of Asda, but it's a big 'no, no' if they are going to insist on traffic lights.

"There is an easier alternative, as we have said to Tesco, and that is to have a dedicated left-hand lane into the store."

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