Fears new pollution signs will deter Bognor's seaside visitors

Concerned town councillor Jim Brooks said: “The west end is a very important part of Bognor, it is a wonderful area, popular with families and a sign like this with writing like that seems mad.

“If it wasn’t here permanently and just when there might be a problem I would understand that. I would happily hold a red flag and have a loudspeaker if there was a problem.

“At the end of the day we need to be safe, if there is an issue we need to know, but this is a national forecast and Bognor has a micro-climate.

“My concern is words like this are displayed when there might not be a problem.”

The signs come just days after a Bognor Regis beach retained an award recognising its first-class standards.

Arun District Council confirmed it has erected the signs at ‘Felpham and Bognor Regis Aldwick Beaches’.

It said: “Every day the Environment Agency will advise the council if any short term pollution is forecast, based on predicted rainfall in the following 24 hours.”

The council can than make the decision whether to warn bathers of any ‘potential risk’ via the sign and by ‘posting the same information online’.