Plans for putting pride into town

The ideas are contained in guidelines for action agreed by Bognor Regis Town Council to put pride into the area. Cllr Greg Burt said: 'This is a general framework for the council. This council spends about 600,000 a year. That's 2.4m on current spending over our four year term.

'That's a lot of money and it's only right we should set broad targets.'

The strategy sought to build upon the council's unique position to deliver projects and services that were modest in ambition and cost yet had a cumulative big impact on the quality of life in Bognor for visitors, residents and workers, said council leader Cllr Burt.

It would also build on the work carried out by previous councils in improving landscaping and other features around the town.

Top of the 12 items in the strategy is a new museum.

The current volunteer-run museum was housed in a cramped, and sometimes damp, building in the High Street, states the strategy.

'A larger building would enable the town to have a museum of which it could be even more proud at the same time as delivering a much-needed modest visitor attraction in which we are sadly lacking,' it says. Possible locations had been identified but could not be named.

The council should also work with others to restore missing and neglected architectural features, according to the strategy.

It states: 'This would help give the town back some of the character of which it has been stripped by unsympathetic developers and unenlightened councils.'

Possible candidates included restoring Olby's Clock to the High Street, restoring missing railings along the Esplanade and restore the railings and lamps to the railway station entrance in Richmond Road.

A hit squad should be formed by the council to deal promptly with problems on footpaths such as dog's mess, litter and overhanging vegetation.

The state of footpaths was an issue raised with all candidates in May's elections and is an issue which has cost the town points in recent In Bloom competitions. The town council should supplement the work of the district and county councils rather than carry out their work.

Other items in the strategy include hosting a scheme to reward and encourage more attractive developments, an anti-litter campaign, better public toilets, more welcoming '˜Welcome' signs and encouraging more attractive street lighting.