Developer to outline Bognor transformation plans at public exhibition

Arun District Council has announced the initial dates for next month’s consultation into the £40m St Modwen’s proposals.

The much-anticipated public consultation exercise will start with a public exhibition in London Road.

It will be manned by both Arun District Council officers and representatives from their preferred partner for the development, St Modwen.

However, there will be no detailed designs at this stage. These would follow depending on the results of the consultation.

Gillian Brown, Arun District Council’s leader, said: “The worst thing would be for people to think that this is a fait accompli.

“There are no detailed plans as there were in 2008, because at this stage we are asking for people’s opinions about the principles of the scheme only.

“Those detailed plans are worked up from what people tell us during the consultation phase and after.

“We have to remember this scheme will be very different to what was presented in 2008.

“The new proposals take into account what people told us at the time, for example, their dislike of the tall buildings and their desire to keep the Alexander Theatre.

“Importantly we are presenting ideas that can be delivered.

“This will be a district-wide consultation process and we are currently working up further events to ensure as many people as possible get the chance to have their say,” added Cllr Mrs Brown.

The information events will take place on November 22, 23 and 24.

They will all run from 10am until 4pm and be at the top and bottom of London Road.

Should it rain on any of the days, the events will be moved into Bognor Regis Town Hall in Clarence Road.

These are the first events to be announced as part of the three-week consultation exercise. More dates will be released follow over the coming days.

As reported in last week’s Observer, the consultation should give everyone the opportunity to voice their 
opinions about the ambitious ideas, which could boost leisure facilities and jobs.

The current thinking for the Regis Centre and Hothampton sites will be available for all to see and ask questions about.

A full listing of the variety of public events that will form the part of the consultation will be released over the next fortnight and added to www.arun.gov.uk/haveyoursay

An independent survey of a representative sample of the population will also be undertaken as part of the consultation.