Woman stunned over Bognor Museum plans

A woman has been left stunned after a charity changed her dream plans for a new Bognor Regis museum without consulting her.

Jennifer Jones bought the Berkeley Arms public house in West Street for 270,000 and donated the building to the Bognor Regis Local History Society.

Mrs Jones locked horns with the charity for several months because she wanted to have a cafe and bed and breakfast at the new museum.

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But members of the history committee decided they preferred having just the museum and three first-floor flats upstairs because they didn't want it to be more of a 'business'.

"The society said it didn't want the cafe '“ but every museum has a cafe," said Mrs Jones, of Victoria Drive, Bognor.

"The upstairs was running as a bed and breakfast until last May and it would have been very simple for people to use the new cafe. It would have been brilliant. But the committee said no and without consulting me."

Mrs Jones said she should have kicked-up a stink when the society decided to go ahead with its plans earlier this year.

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However, history society trustee and curator of the new museum, David Jennings, said: "The bottom line is we are a charity. If you give money to a charity you can't then say 'I want it spent like this'.

"We had views and visions. She wanted a museum to be here forever and ever. That is what she will be getting.

"It will be a 21st century museum. We have had a lot to comply with for the building, and costs are more than what we first thought."

Mr Jones was a member of the history society, but she decided to withdraw her support. Mr Jennings said he and other members were 'flabbergasted' at her decision to leave.

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He added it would be a terrible shame if they had to part on bad company and called Mrs Jones a 'very charitable person'.

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