Fears for Bognor as Arun won't replace tourism manager

The position of tourism manager at Arun District Council no longer exists after the previous occupant, Richard Edwards, took early retirement.

The council has no plans to replace him, though insisting it is still fully committed to promoting tourism in the area.

Bognor seafront business operator Darrell Hardy said he regretted the loss of the Mr Edwards' job.

"I always got on with Richard Edwards and he always promoted the town and the area as best he could within the policies of the district council.

"It will be very sad to see that position not being filled again. Surely, there must still be a budget for the job?" he asked.

Cllr Paul Wells told last week's Civic Society meeting: "Butlins keeps this town going because of the way Arun has dealt with tourism over the years.

"Arun is not really doing that much for tourism. Publically, they will say they are doing a lot but we would not have a town centre without Butlins.

"With the amount of money that comes from the communities around Bognor, and what is done with that money for the town, as time goes on it's apparent that we are just paying to keep the local government machine going at the district council."

The lack of a tourism manager comes as 2009 is shaping up to be one of the most important summers Bognor has faced in a long time.

UK holidays are said to be coming back into fashion because the recession and the slumping pound are putting off holidaymakers from travelling overseas.

In addition, visitors from abroad are predicted to come here in greater numbers because the currency changes are in their favour.

Research by VisitBritain predicts about 20 per cent of people who took a foreign holiday last year will remain in the UK this year.

Mike Bedingfield, its marketing director, said: "Now is the time to be investing in marketing campaigns to remind consumers of the value-for-money experiences they can enjoy."

Mr Edwards took voluntary early retirement last month after 16 years in his job. A council spokesman paid tribute to his work and the good relationships he had built up with tourism businesses across the district.

"With Richard's departure, we will be working hard to maintain and build on the relationships he has developed with local businesses to ensure we can fulfil our objective of promoting local businesses, including tourism businesses.

"The council is determined to improve the way it delivers this and other priorities relating to the promotion of the district," the spokesman stated.

This involved developing a new, more strategic approach to combine all the council's marketing and communications work, to achieve that aim.

He added: "In the current economic climate, attracting visitors to the area becomes more important than ever and businesses can rest assured that the council will put all available resources into promoting Arun as widely as possible."

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