Elephants could help brighten seafront

About 400 people went along to a two-day exhibition to have their say about the proposals.

The coastline under scrutiny stretches from Marine Park Gardens in Aldwick along to Felpham's Blakes Road.

Along the way, it takes in the most popular section of the promenade between Butlins and the pier.

Ideas put on show by Arun District Council at the town's Methodist Church attracted plenty of comments and suggestions.

The proposals featured in the maps, plans and images included elephant sculptures in Waterloo Square to symbolise the times when the giant animals with visiting circuses were taken the beach to cool down, and a fitness trail with pull-up bars and sit-up benches. A patch of sandy beach is another idea, as well as building a jabba beach hut.

A landscaped plaza with a water feature is a possibility in The Steyne. There is also the chance Arun will buy the private beach huts along Marine Drive West when they come up for sale and remove them to improve access to that beach.

Another idea is to form a garden in front of the Butlins frontage and extend and landscape the small park in Aldwick Road.

The prospect of an international-standard water sports centre on the Gloucester Road car park was also on show.

This is intended to be an iconic and environmentally-friendly building as a base for jet-skiing, scuba diving and similar sports.

But it was more day-to-day issues which concerned the exhibition visitors who spoke to the Observer.

Tony Pascall (46), of Nyewood Lane, said: "A cycle path along the promenade would be a good idea.

"We can have elderly people speeding up and down there on their electric scooters, the seafront train travelling along there and I've seen police community support officers cycling along there.

"But members of the public are not supposed to cycle along there. A cycle path would be good to keep children off the roads. The seafront provides a direct link to Felpham."

George Doughty (71), of Argyle Road, said: "I would like to see more seats under cover along the seafront so when people come down to Bognor they have somewhere to sit with their sandwiches and cups of tea, whatever the weather.

"People don't always want to go in restaurants but there aren't many other places for them to go along the seafront."

Croydon resident Ian Chase (37), who has just bought a property at Riverside Caravan Park, said: "There used to be a seafront garden at Butlins and it would be good to see that there again.

"It's nice to see people are not letting things go.

"It's a fantastic coastline and the town needs to make the most of it. But I don't want to see too much development on the seafront, though. I love the unspoilt views there are along there."

The comments made from last Friday and Saturday's exhibition will be used by the council and its consultants EDAW to draft a seafront strategy. This will be submitted to councillors for approval early next year.

Cllr Norman Dingemans, in charge of Arun's economic and cultural development services, said the council was committed to ensuring the seafront played its part in Bognor's regeneration.

"This area provides great opportunity for improvement, creating better links between the seafront and the town centre," he said.

"We are keen to bring new and high-quality features to the seafront that will help build its reputation as an exciting and distinctive destination."

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