POLL: Bill Bryson bashes Bognor in new book

Bill Bryson didn't pull any punches when he compared Bognor Regis to a '˜patient on life support' in his latest book.
Bognor's beach largely escaped Bryson's criticism. Picture: Phil McCutchionBognor's beach largely escaped Bryson's criticism. Picture: Phil McCutchion
Bognor's beach largely escaped Bryson's criticism. Picture: Phil McCutchion

The famous travel author made the comment when discussing Arun District Council’s treatment of the town in The Road to Little Dribbling, which documents Bryson’s journey from Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath in Scotland.

During his trip to the town, Bryson criticised the council for its handling of the Bognor Regis Regeneration Task Force initiative, which he said had an initial goal to bring £500million of investment into the town before being ‘quietly reduced’ to £100million and then £25million before being ‘wound up’.

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He then went on to say: “As far as I could tell, all the authorities are doing for Bognor is just keeping it ticking over, like a patient on life support”.

Despite his criticisms – and his observation that the second-most popular Bognor Regis attraction behind Hotham Park was ‘a shop selling mobility scooters’ – he goes on to say that Bognor ‘isn’t such a bad place’, complimenting its ‘long beach with a curving concrete promenade’.

He is more reserved about the town centre, describing it as ‘compact and tidy, if not thriving’.

Do you agree with his comments? Have your say with our poll.

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