Dazzling projection light show could help Bognor celebrate Christmas

Commonly referred to as building projection or street projection, it is a form of lighting design and technology which sees imagery fit the contours of a surface at a large scale.

Projection mapping can create beautiful illusions with moving images to captivate live audiences at events.

Investigations have been undertaken into buying in a Christmas projection mapping light show with sound which will be projected on to the upper section of the Santander building on the corner of London Road and the High Street, pending permissions.

This would run over the festive period at set times throughout the day.

A budget for the show was approved by Bognor Regis Town Council’s events, promotion and leisure committee on Monday (September 14).

This has been set at £10,000 plus £2,000 for contingencies.

The work would be undertaken by experts Double Take Projections.

On Monday night, Samantha Staniforth (LDem, Orchard) said: “I realise this is a big chunk of money but we have been through an awful lot all of us over Covid and I think we need something to pick our spirits up and particularly this Christmas.

“There will be a lot of people struggling and we really need something to look forward to and I think this is going to be fantastic.”

Jeanette Warr (LDem, Hotham) added: “I think it will be a great opportunity for our town to bring in people and just enjoy the exciting time of Christmas the best way we possibly can.”

According to the meeting papers, due to the uncertainty about what the winter season may bring there may not be a switch-on event for the Christmas lights this year, with a soft opening for the illuminations instead to avoid large gatherings.

The projection mapping light show would therefore ‘bring another dimension to Christmas which would complement the BID’s light installations and run alongside the Elves theme they are planning’.

They would run from mid November and throughout the whole of December at set times throughout the day for example a four minute projection running four times an hour daily between 4pm and 8pm.

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