Views been sought on new ruling body for Bognor Regis

Former town mayor Jan Cosgrove has set up an e-referendum to gauge support for the idea.

He believes a single council would provide residents with a bigger say in the current regeneration debate.

He has suggested the local authority could be formed to join the current town council area - with its four wards around the town centre - with the outlying parishes of Aldwick, Bersted, Felpham, Middleton and Pagham.

The current jigsaw puzzle of local councils means the urban area of Bognor with its 68,000 population lacked a single voice to speak up for its interests.

“A One Bognor Town Council would raise around £2m a year in council tax precept. It would own several halls as well as the Picturedrome.

“Town Force would work for all its inhabitants, its voice in planning would be significant, more of its staff would be working in direct services rather than admin.

“It would have a bigger voice dealing with Arun District Council, the county council, St Modwen, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Bourne Leisure.

“It could support more organisations, supporting the most vulnerable. This is not about party politices. It’s about a real voice for the real Bognor,” he said.

Mr Cosgrove, of Longford Road, served as the town mayor in the current town council in 2002/03 and was a Pevensey ward councillor for Labour for 14 years.

He said the electoral battles to win seats on the town council meant the area’s residents were better represented than those in the other parishes. Many of the seats on those councils were uncontested at elections.

“That enables ‘divide and rule’. We do not have the democratic strength we need, which is especially vital in this time of controversy over regeneration.

“We have the farce that the pinnacle of Arun/St Modwen’s plans is you-must-have multiplex cinema.

“People are saying ‘no’ in large numbers. They want to walk away from it and its risk to the Picturedrome. We can do much better,” said Mr Cosgrove.

He said setting up a One Bognor council would be easier than the long-held amibition of breaking away from Arun. That would need government support, which was very unlikely.

But the One Bognor council would only have to be sanctioned by the district council.

A large petition would be necessary to force the issue. Mr Cosgrove has set up an online poll open to anyone in PO21 and PO22 to sign.

He said: “The results will be published. I will ask the civic society, the town council, the chamber of commerce and other bodies to consider it - and then present it to Arun.

“The One Bognor poll is open now. It will stay open for as long as is needed. Everyone who signed the Picturedrome petition should sign now.”

The poll can be completed at www.onebognor.com A paper version is available from One Bognor, 32 Longford Road, Bognor Regis PO21 1AG by enclosing two 2nd class stamps.