Duo criticise delays to Asda's store plans for Bognor Regis

Cllrs Paul Wells and Francis Oppler accused Arun District Council of treating Asda's proposals differently from the more-recently revealed plans by Sainsbury's for a store.

Cllr Wells, a district councillor for Hotham, said: "Some officials and councillors have been openly critical of the Asda application before it goes to the development control committee.

"They have made it clear they do not want Asda on this site, pre-empting the committee's decision.

"Arun appear to be treating Asda and Sainsbury's differently. We believe this is fundamentally wrong."

Francis Oppler, a district councillor for Orchard, said: "All the evidence and research carried out by us clearly shows a majority of the residents of the town would like to see an Asda in Bognor.

"It is our belief both Asda and Sainsbury's should be welcomed to Bognor. They would offer fair competition to the existing Tesco store.

"More importantly, the new stores will give the people of the town greater choice."

He claimed Arun District Council seemed to be content to deprive the town's economy of the tens of millions of pounds of investment from Asda, along with 550 jobs at the store.

"This is further evidence of Arun paying lip service to regeneration. Reality tells a different story," he added.

Asda had an initial meeting with Arun about its plans to build a store on Oldlands Farm, off Oldlands Way, in March 2007.

The scheme became public the following October. It involves a 30m investment to include an outlet selling the full Asda food and non-food range and 4.5m investment into a new business park next door.

Asda formally submitted its planning application to Arun last January and has been waiting for a decision since then.

Arun chief executive Ian Sumnall, who is also the council's acting head of planning, denied any attempt had been made to delay or hinder the application. It was being dealt with in accordance with strict national and local guidelines.

"The council and its consultants have worked closely with Asda at all stages of the application, making them fully aware of any queries and issues that have been raised along the way.

"All timetables have been agreed and any delays in the application being determined have been at the request of, or with the agreement of, Asda. As a result, it is anticipated the application will now be considered when the committee meets on December 18."

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