Row erupts over Bognor regeneration poll

Six individuals in the town have called the meeting for 7.30pm on Monday, April 28, at the town hall.

The aim is to provide the chance for a debate about the 100m-plus proposals put forward by St Modwen for the Hothamton and Regis Centre sites.

One of the movers of the meeting, former county councillor Michael Jones, said: "If you're interested in Bognor's regeneration, then please make every effort to come to the electors' meeting.

"What I hope will happen is that, after a lively and informed discussion on the questions put to the meeting, at least ten local electors will demand a town poll takes place to test opinion. This will give people a chance to have a direct say through the ballot box on the regeneration proposals currently on the table."

Many of those involved with the meeting, like Mr Jones, have been Labour councillors representing parts of the town on various local authorities.

Their calls for action have been condemned as a poorly timed political gesture.

Liberal Democrat town, district and county councillor Simon McDougall said the meeting and the poll were only concerned with raising the profile of a Labour party without any councillors around Bognor.

"Timing on any town poll is crucial, especially as the more meaningful second stage consultation has not taken place," said Cllr McDougall, the parliamentary spokesman for the Lib Dems.

"Any potential poll should be held once we know the final position of St Modwen's proposals and before we get to the planning application stage.

"I am a great believer in public consultation and referenda and would have sympathy with such a move when the timing is right.

"However, with the potential cost of any poll being in the region of 12,000 for only the four wards of Bognor, one really has to ask if this is responsible action with council taxpayers' money?"

The town council would have to pay for any referendum. It would exclude residents of surrounding areas such as Aldwick, Felpham and North Bersted.The questions which have been put forward for discussion at the meeting are:

Question One:

A '“ Do you agree that the scheme developed by St Modwen with/financed by the construction of 168 flats on the Regis Centre site, plus another 180 flats on the Hothamton site, offers the best plans that are possible for Bognor Regis town centre regeneration?

B '“ Do you agree that the St Modwen scheme seeks too many seafront and other flats and too few additional leisure and shopping facilities?

Question Two:

A '“ Do you favour St Modwen's plan for a combined entertainment venue which will share cinema and live entertainment to be built at an unknown cost but likely to be in excess of 5m?

B '“ Do you favour the alternative proposal of Arun Arts, to extend and upgrade the existing Alexandra Theatre into a 500-seat venue dedicated to live entertainment, at a cost of around 2m, incorporated into a viable seafront regeneration, plus the expansion of the existing Picturedrome Cinema to five screens?

Question Three:

Do you support the closure of the seafront road, The Esplanade, as proposed in the St Modwen development?

If a town poll is called, voters will have the chance to select 'either/or' choices in questions one and two to give them the widest choice of options.

The poll will take place about six weeks after the meeting.

Its results will not be binding on any council, but councillors do have to take its result into consideration in planning the next stages with St Modwen.