Town council: We would back an appeal by Asda over Bognor store

They agreed to the unusual step of being represented at any public inquiry called by the company into the refusal of its plans for a store to serve the town.

The decision was made unanimously by the 12 town councillors who want the government inspector, who will lead any inquiry, to be aware of the true level of feeling in the town in favour of the scheme.

The town council had long supported Asda's arrival before Arun District Council rejected the ambitious 30m scheme last month.

Cllr Paul Wells said: "We owe it to the people of Bognor and the surrounding areas to be represented at any inquiry.

"People from Pagham, Felpham and Barnham are among those who have written to the Observer outraged about the decision."

Cllr Greg Burt stated that Arun's desire to keep the proposed Asda site at Oldlands Farm for a business park was misguided: "That land has been earmarked for a business park for donkey's years but it has not happened.

"Arun's business policies have not delivered a business park," he said.

"People are not queuing up to invest in Bognor and yet we had Asda wanting to kickstart a business park and create hundreds of jobs.

"Any job has to be welcome in the town, no matter how lowly paid. Any job is better than no job at all, within reason. I think there's room in the town for both Asda and Sainsbury's.

"If the town is to be expanded with all these new homes, which will be built eventually, there's plenty of scope for these supermarkets. We need more choice."

Asda was willing to install the services for a business park next to its store and build a 10,000sq ft office block if it received the go-ahead from Arun.

But the district council said the proposals would harm the town centre, its site was on land at risk of flooding and would take up a site set aside for job creation and no demand had been shown by Asda for the proposed office block.

Asda has until June 19 to appeal against Arun's refusal of its plans. The deadline is six months after the district council sent out the formal letter with its decision.

Asda has yet to decide its next step.

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