VOTE: Time for our town to break free from Arun

The move for independence led by Cllrs Simon McDougall and Paul Wells echoes protests 20 years ago which sparked considerable ill-feeling between a number of residents and the area's Conservative-run authority based in Littlehampton.

According to those behind the campaign, long-standing concerns over the regeneration of Bognor and services delivered to the area lie at the heart of a drive to review whether a new unitary authority could administer the town.

Speaking at a meeting of Arun District Council (ADC), Mr Wells criticised the district's latest financial budget, which it claims was prudent in light of its requirement to save 3.2m over the next two years.

Council leader Gillian Brown hailed it as the lowest council tax increase in a decade with the rise of 2.46 per cent, being equivalent to an increase of 3.87 on the district council's portion of a Band D property.

Mr Wells said: "This council is full of spin. We have seen this at national government and we have it at local government. Perhaps it's time for independence from Arun for Bognor so we can just get on with what the town needs to do,"

The councillor is now set to distribute an independence for Bognor petition within the town. He claimed Arun had not sufficiently supported tourism in the area, which it refuted.

Adding to his criticism Mr McDougall, who is standing as the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Bognor said: "The last time we looked at getting out of Arun was 20 years ago and two decades later we are still under the same one party rule that has been in power for 35 years.

"We are not moving forward in terms of supporting tourism budgets for an industry that's the lifeblood of Arun.

"It's now time we started lobbying government to look at how local government operates in this area."

Nick Stuart-Nicolson, chairman of Bognor Chamber of Commerce, said he backed the call for reviewing the district council's authority over the town.

He said: "There are a lot of people who come into the chamber saying the town should get out of Arun. We have a situation where Arun is just too diluted.

"There are councillors from Findon making decisions about what happens in Bognor when they don't have the local knowledge. I support the councillors looking at independence."

Council leader Gillian Brown said all Arun residents were being given a fair deal which was reflected in its latest modest-increase council tax rates.

In her speech she said the council 'needed to set an example and live within its means' while assisting people through the worst recession in 80 years.

Responding to the calls for Bognor breaking away from Arun's authority, she did not believe it was a viable prospect. She said: "We all live in Arun and as district, town or parish councillor our duty is to serve it. I am proud to lead a council committed to doing just that.

"I am therefore disappointed by comments from fellow district councillors calling for 'independence'. Independence from what? From ADC, West Sussex County Council or England?

"The cost of all the services ADC provides for our 146,000 plus residents amounts to just over 3 a week. We've given 1m worth of help to our local small businesses through our rate relief programme, helped with 2m worth of improvements to council housing stock and given 1.3m disabled facilities grants.

"In these times of financial hardship that have affected every family living in Arun we should all be working together and concentrating efforts on what I believe to be our common goal regardless of politics: improving Arun for the benefit of all who live, work and visit the district.

"Arun District Council remains committed to delivering ambitious regeneration programmes for the whole district and providing a service that is good value for money for our residents."

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