Tournism is key to Bognor's regeneration - claim

At a meeting of Bersted Parish Council, a discussion of how the town could be regenerated was held.

Cllr Martin Lury said: "There have been so many missed opportunities regarding tourism in Bognor Regis.

"It is the sunniest town on the south coast and yet we don't seem to get any recognition for it.

"We regularly beat the Isle of Wight and we do have people rushing down here to live. Chichester and Littlehampton are promoted successfully by the district council as tourist spots and the same needs to be done here."

A spokesman for Arun District Council said: "In our view, our tourism department works hard to promote all three towns '“ Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and Arundel '“ equally.

"We promote all upcoming events in the town with lamppost banners and have also just launched a Facebook page to promote all of the Arun district.

"Our annual tourism brochure features the town strongly through a two-page editorial feature and goes out to an average of 35,000 people every year."

Cllr Simon McDougall said: "Regeneration should come through tourism.

"There doesn't seem to be any alternative. We have tried through industry but the links with places like London are not in place."

Over the summer months Arun's regeneration team organised many events which they hoped would boost tourism in the town.

These included working with Berkeley Homes on their current development programme and working to bring a watersports centre to the town.

A successful campaign encouraging residents to plant sunflowers to celebrate the town being the 'sunfloweriest' in the UK has also been widely praised.