Mixed opinions over film's view of Bognor Regis life

Mother-of-two Nicky Simmonds filmed a report for the BBC's South Today to put into pictures her feelings about the town.

The resulting two minutes and ten seconds of airtime highlighted the state of the pier, the empty shops in the town centre and the derelict Lec Refrigeration site. She also focused on the investment in Butlins and Hotham Park.

The film has generated strong opinions between those critical of it for potentially damaging the town's tourism trade as the summer begins and those who agree with every word it contained.

Mrs Simmons, a nurse from Felpham, said she was happy with the final film.

"I wanted to get people talking about everything that's good and bad about Bognor. I hope that's what I did. I wanted to get across the residents' side of the argument.

"Bognor is just rapidly going down the pan," she said. "I've been getting more and more frustrated about the situation.

"So many people are talking about it, but they are not doing anything about it. All the young people are growing up wanting to leave the town because they don't want to stay here."

Avid Bognor Regis Observer reader Mrs Simmons has had a letter published in the newspaper about her concerns.

She recently contacted South Today to ask it to film a report.

Instead, the programme's editor gave her a camera to become a reporter, guided by a professional journalist.

She filmed 37 minutes of footage which had to be severely edited to the final product before it was screened on June 26.

Mrs Simmons admitted it had been hard to condense all the information into the time she was allowed.

Her wishlist to improve Bognor is topped by improving the pier.

"That's meant to be the life and soul of a seaside town," she stated.

"But it's a complete eyesore. I don't know the history behind it, but something should be done about it."

She also wanted to see the town centre boosted by new shops and some regeneration initiatives to get started soon.

Councillor's anger

Anger about the film came from a Bognor Regis councillor.

Paul Wells, a member of the town, district and county councils, said he had complained to the BBC about the one-sided nature of the article.

He wanted it to make another film to rectify the situation.

"I dread to think what impact that piece will have on our tourism business throughout the summer season," he stated. "It was really slanted and gave the town a bad name."

At the Bognor Regis Civic Society meeting, Cllr Wells said: "It saddened me to watch that film.

"It showed the town turning in on itself, with the residents' frustration with where the town is going.

"It shows the clear message the views of the people in the town are being completely ignored by Arun District Council time and time again."

Civic society deputy chairman Hugh Coster said he was unhappy about the South Today article.

"No attempt was made to understand what the problems are in the town or what people are trying to do to put them right," he said.

Balanced report

Regeneration head Richard McMann said he was satisfied with the South Today report.

"From my point of view, it was a balanced report as I would expect from a TV news show," he stated.

"I think they got the balance right. We can't dictate what they do any more than we can with newspapers."

He was pleased the brief segment in which he was featured quoted him as

saying there was still sufficient investment interest in the town in spite of the recession.

"That is different from a lot of areas which are struggling to keep their regeneration programmes going at the moment," he stated.

"I think the report also enabled Mrs Simmons to realise how much work is going on to regenerate Bognor."

Regeneration moving too slowly

Bognor Chamber of Commerce president and chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson said the town's regeneration was moving too slowly.

"Things have not started to move as swiftly as they might have done," he told the monthly executive committee meeting.

"The public were expecting a tsunami of activity. That is not happening. We need to see something happening."

Ian Harding, an executive committee member, said: "I sympathise with what Mrs Simmons's said.

"It's all very well Arun telling us to talk the town up when it is Arun which is selling the town short."

He stated the council failed to promote the restored Hotham Park to the thousands of tourists who walked along the seafront.

The promotion of Marine Park Gardens at the other end of the promenade was also completely neglected.

"The holidaymakers would love to enjoy the facilities there. But we have to tell them they are there and where they are," he added.

Publican Jim Shepherd, another committee member, said Bognor was thriving as far as one section of the economy was concerned.

The town had not lost a single pub in the past few years. In contrast, Littlehampton had seen seven close around the town centre.

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