One of Bognor's entrances is labelled bland and boring

It's bland, it's boring '“ and it's one of the main entrances to Bognor Regis.

The need for a makeover of the A29 was outlined by the chairman and president of the town's chamber of commerce.

The road is the town's main north-south link and is the first sight of the built-up area for tens of thousands of motorists every year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nick Stuart-Nicolson told district, town and county councillors at the Joint Western Arun area committee: "At the southern end of the A29 '“ the gateway into the town from the junction of Rowan Way '“ it is incredibly unattractive.

"Coming south, Wiley's premises are overtly bland and this unattractive area becomes even more startingly grim as one approaches the near derelict Lec site.

"Many feel the new hoardings do nothing to hide the site and some feel they are quite hideous.

"There is an almost universal dislike of the arrival of traffic lights at the entrance to the Tesco store.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The inevitable congestion created by this unnecessary addition will only add to the very poor, some might say distasteful, 'welcome to Bognor'.

"Now that Asda has been sent packing...the opportunity to improve the approaches to our town has probably been lost forever.

"Is there any hope this vital section of this major entry into Bognor will be improved?"

Karl Roberts, the head of Arun District Council's planning section, said he fully acknowledged the points made by Mr Stuart-Nicolson.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Roberts replied that an important aspect of the proposed Sainsbury's store for the Lec site would be the improved appearance it would give to motorists along the A29 if it was approved by the council.

For the Oldlands Farm site further north, favoured by Asda, the council was working hard behind the scenes to ensure the land became a business park in line with its regeneration aspirations.

"An important part of that scheme is that we would try to come up with a form of development which will be a welcome to the town," he stated.

"I am very conscious of the concerns Mr Stuart-Nicolson has raised. But it is difficult to give a definitive time because a lot of work on these matters is going on."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

n Mr Stuart-Nicolson also said Bognor's residents were getting impatient with the lack of regeneration action in the town centre.

"It is felt the successes loudly proclaimed by Butlins and the university are not really part of the regeneration as perceived by the public," he said.

"They wish to at least hear of, if not see, some progress on the seafront and other prominent areas."

Mr Roberts explained Bognor was faring relatively well in the difficult economic climate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

One of Arun's priorities was to turn its recently-adopted seafront strategy for Bognor into a reality.

"The difficulties of making regeneration proposals work in terms of their economics is something many parts of the country are having to face," he added.

"Richard McMann and his Bognor regeneration team are working on that."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter to [email protected] or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

Related topics: