Hopes high for Hotham Park cafe

A first meeting with council officers has left the supporters of an innovative cafe for Bognor Regis hopeful of making progress.

The session brought together those with an initial interest in the T-House cafe among Hotham Park's trees.

They included architect Nick Hopper, of Make Bognor Regis Better, representatives of the two social enterprise groups which have become involved

in the scheme, and two council officials.

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Mr Hopper said the meeting had been a success and offered promise for the future of the scheme.

Another meeting would be held at the end of this month to discuss further progress.

"It was a really good starting point. The next step is to formulate the business plan and that's what the next couple of weeks will involve," he said.

"If we can move it forward with the momentum we have at the moment, there is a good chance it could be successful.

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"Arun were open to suggestions. I got a good positive feel from them.

"They are willing to open up the parameters of their thoughts about the park's cafe. That opens up all kinds of possibilities."

Hotham Park manager Michael Rowland, one of the council officers present, said: "It was exciting to see the level of enthusiasm and conviction by the attendees of this meeting, and their determination to see a new, exciting cafe in Hotham Park.

"The ideas and plans are at an early stage, but the concept offered by Nick Hopper shows imagination and a desire to provide Bognor with a new cafe it can be proud of."

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The T-House is intended to provide Bognor with a unique eating place which also takes advantage of the setting of the restored Hotham Park.

The concession for the current cafe, which lacks indoor seating, will end this December 31.

Arun is expected to approve a temporary catering arrangement for 18 months to two years in the park to cover the period between the cafe closing and a new cafe being built.

The district council was last night due to receive a petition of several hundred names demanding a cafe be provided in the park.