Free carparking plan for Bognor Regis is unveiled

The plan put forward by the Bognor Regis Civic Society, and backed by the Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce, would borrow a similar idea from Littlehampton, whereby shoppers can display a clock dial card on their dashboards to gain up to two hours' free parking in designated areas.

It is felt the proposals could be the catalyst the town needs to get real regeneration under way now rather than talking about future plans which might never go ahead.

The deputy chairman of the civic society, Hugh Coster, presented the plans on Tuesday at the monthly society meeting at the Royal Norfolk Hotel to an audience who voted unanimously in favour.

He made it clear that now is the time to implement such a scheme as the funding is in place to subsidise it, which has not been the case in the past.

Money from the 500,000 section 106, recently agreed with Sainsbury's for the building of their store on Shripney Road, could be used, as well as money, it is felt, owed to the town from the lease agreement Arun District Council struck with Butlins, thought to be 2.7m.

The president and chairman of Bognor Regis and District Chamber of Commerce, Nick Stuart-Nicolson, said: "A simple disc-based scheme has been in place in Littlehampton for years, and they have free on street-parking too.

"It's high time the same thing was introduced in Bognor Regis, especially when there's so much talk of regeneration.

"It is entirely appropriate that Sainsbury's, with their on-site free parking, should support the town centre shops in this way, and the scheme will bring new people to enjoy our town and its facilities.

"Who knows, it might prove to be the only regeneration scheme we need, instead of all the disruptive building works and hundreds of flats proposed so far."

Mr Coster said they were not criticising the way the town was now, or bemoaning the lack of parking space, but trying to think of a way to get more people.

He told the meeting about how major retailer Primark had been put off going into Worthing because of high priced parking, and said Bognor could reap the benefits of getting people in for free.

He said: "We will get people who will think it's busy '“ there's money flowing there. We could get better shops, restaurants, cafes.

"Why shouldn't this type of parking happen in Bognor as well as Littlehampton?

"The response has always been the cost. Who's going to fund it? That's all changed now.

"We are going to be pushing for Arun to do this. If this doesn't happen, it's going to be an election issue."

Sponsorship opportunities could also be utilised to help fund it, as is similarly done with roundabouts.

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