Government enterprise snub deprives Bognor Regis of new jobs

Prime minister David Cameron and communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles announced the final sites for enterprise zones yesterday (Tuesday, August 16).

And Bognor was missing from the list of seven successful applicants from Cornwall to Cheshire.

Those behind the Enterprise@Bognor Regis bid were disappointed at the setback which ended a four-month campaign to get the town selected among the 11 locations for the zones.

John Peel, chairman of the Coast to Capital local enterprise partnership, which formally submitted the bid, said the government’s decision ignored the economic situation in the Bognor area.

“Government has to recognise this area’s needs and ambitions,” he said.

“There are significant areas of deprivation within the Coast to Capital area which must be addressed sooner or later.”

But he joined the other partners involved with the scheme to pledge to continue the spirit of co-operation which had developed as the bid for enterprise zone status was developed.

“We will work with all our partners to consider how a local approach can achieve the same goals.

Meetings are already scheduled to discuss a way forward,” he said.

To read the full story, see the Bognor Regis Observer, on sale from tomorrow (Thursday, August 18).