Strategy rethink on changes to seafront

Arun District Council's decision-making cabinet will consider the issue to provide a updated image for the town's biggest natural asset '“ its unbroken public promenade from Aldwick to Felpham.

Bognor regeneration task force co-ordinator Richard McMann said the strategy was needed because of the impact of the two major developments about to take place.

Bourne Leisure is about to unveil plans for its second hotel while St Modwen has radical proposals to reshape the seafront as well as close a section of The Esplanade.

"There's a gap with what is happening along the seafront that are not part of the plans," said Mr McMann.

"What we don't want is for St Modwen and Bourne Leisure to do their bit and we leave the rest of the seafront to take its own course which clashes with what they are doing."

"It's about the seafront concessions. What do we want on the seafront, what should they be and where should they be. What operations do we want to be part of the future."

The strategy will contain a concept of what the seafront should look like and the design and quality of the concessions placed along it.

"Do we have better quality than we have now and what do we find acceptable to make sure we encourage spending."

Arun leader Cllr Gill Brown said she had been talking to Bognor Regis Town Council about the seafront.

"The discussions included the need for continuity. We don't want different styles in different places on the seafront," she stated.

Shirley Hardy, whose family has been in business along the seafront since 1946, said the area had to change to stay to meet the tastes of holidaymakers.

"We have got to move with the times. If the seafront is going to go upmarket, we have got to change.

"Companies like Butlins are moving forward, with their second hotel, and we have to move forward with them.

"People expect more nowadays. So we have to give them more.

"I think the seafront has got a great future but there will always be goods which people will want to buy there," she stated.

Mrs Hardy added that she expected the brick-built concessions to stay.

But it was unclear what other changes would take place once the St Modwen scheme got underway.

Arun is looking for new concession holders for four of the 12 business sites along the Promenade.

Applicants are asked to enhance the presentation of services on the seafront, help to provide an attractive and high quality environment, encourage a year-round attraction to the area and promote increased spending through return visits.