Classical musical to fill the air in Bognor

The al fresco concerts are being considered for Hotham Park.

Regis School of Music operators Sacha and Nina Levtov have expressed an interest to the Hotham Park Heritage Trust in bringing the touch of culture to the green space.

Other suggestions include staging drama in the park or using it to display art.

The ideas emerged during a meeting to discuss the future use of the park. It was called by the trust.

Rosemary Warren, the trust's chairman, said: "We want to encourage the full use of this jewel of green space by both individuals and community groups.

"We ought to widen activities in order the park should reach its full potential as a community asset.

"We will concentrate on the needs of the community and keep a watching brief over the built and living heritage of the park."

Park manager Michael Rowland, of Arun District Council, said he would help anyone who wanted to stage an event there.

"The more events which take place there the merrier. I will facilitate it whenever I can and try to work round any problems," he said.

"There are rules and regulations, but people shouldn't dismiss what they want to do without seeing if the situation can be looked at."

Ceramicist Su Cloud called for art to feature in the park's future.

She said: "There is no inclusive arts space in Bognor where artists can exhibit, sell and share ideas and run workshops."

The meeting at the Regis Centre attracted some 30 individuals last Thursday. It had been called by the heritage trust because the charity has fulfilled most of the objectives set when it was formed in 1998.

In 2007, the trust helped to obtain 2.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable the park to be refurbished. Its members have also paid for improvements, such as the children's playarea, from the funds mainly raised at the popular summer country fair.

A further 13,500 has been handed to Arun to buy more play equipment.Some 4,500 will purchase more benches.