Free parking in Bognor in time for Christmas?

Chairman Laurie Barnes and deputy chairman Hugh Coster held crunch talks with Bognor Regis Task Force Co-ordinator at Arun District Council, Richard McMann, to discuss the scheme.

The society's idea would allow shoppers in Bognor to get two hours' free parking across designated areas.

The society has also said it wants to start a petition so local shoppers can have their say on the scheme and what their suggestions are.

Section 106 money worth 500,000 could be used to fund the project, a fee which Sainsbury's agreed to donate to Arun District Council as part of its new Shripney Road store.

Money from the 2.7m lease agreement between the council and Butlins could also be up for grabs.

"We met with Mr McMann to gage how he felt about the scheme, which he did, but he suggested using the Sainsbury's money for other things too," said Mr Coster.

"We debated for a while before he said he would like to see the quality of the shops improved in Bognor and to see people being attracted that way. We argued the sooner we start to get more people in the town, then the shops will follow. It's the cheapest, easiest and most direct way of doing this."

The society now wants to meet with Bognor Regis Town Council to discuss the scheme.

Residents and councillors have already backed the scheme since it was unveiled.

The free-parking scheme idea has been backed by the Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce. It borrows a similar idea from Littlehampton, whereby shoppers can display a clock dial card on their dashboards to gain up to two hours of free parking across designated areas.

Mr Coster said everyone has thrown their weight behind the scheme.

Mary Stanley of Sylvan Way, Bognor, said: "Free two-hour parking for shoppers is a positive step in the right direction to get people to come back into the town, which will bring benefits to the local shops, eating places, and to attract more investment.

"There can be no excuse to deny this scheme to the people of Bognor Regis now that quite a lot of extra money is coming into the coffers from Butlins and Sainsbury's.

"It will then put our parking on a slightly more equal footing with Littlehampton."

Mr Coster said: "I have had emails from people I don't know saying the scheme is brilliant. I haven't had any negative messages at all. This was as I expected."