Seven easy steps to a better Bognor - kids tell councillors how

Students from all 17 schools involved in compiling the list of hopes for the future have presented their ideas to councillors.

The five- to 12-year-olds handed over framed copies of the Children's Charter to Arun District Council chairman Ashvin Patel and Jennifer Gillibrand, the town mayor of Bognor.

They also gave a presentation to a special meeting of the district council's Bognor sub-committee in the town hall on Monday.

The charter was devised at a combined school council day

representing the thousands of pupils in all the schools around Bognor and Felpham.

One of the organisers, Bognor Regis Community College assistant headteacher Sarah Jewell, said: "The day provided an excellent opportunity for students of all ages within Felpham and Bognor to meet and discuss issues that are important to them.

"It was a time to share ideas and respect each other's views."

Officers from Arun's environmental amenities team took part in the special day to speak to the children about making Bognor a clean and safe place.

The pupils listed the facilities they wanted to see in the town and how they wanted it to feel.

A vote was held to find the most popular ideas. These form the charter.

Bognor sub-committee chairman Norman Dingemans said: "We think it is fantastic all of these young people have come together to show how much they care for Bognor.

"The children's charter is a great idea.

"I can assure the students we will be working hard to make sure their hopes, as well as those of all other Bognor residents, are achieved as part of our extensive regeneration programme."

Cllr Mrs Gillibrand spent most of the day with the children as they devised the charter.

"I was very impressed with the children's ideas and feel honoured to be receiving the final charter," she said.

Copies of the charter will be displayed in all the schools around the town.

The schools which contributed to the charter were:

Bognor Regis Community College, Bognor Regis Nursery School, Barton Infants School, Laburnum Grove Junior School, Glade Infant School, Michael Ayres Junior School, Nyewood Infant School, Nyewood Junior School, Rose Green Infant School, Rose Green Junior School, Bishop Tufnell Infant School, Bishop Tufnell Junior School, Downview Primary School, Edward Bryant Primary School, Felpham Community College, South Bersted Primary School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School.

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