Bognor vs Horsham: the debate rages on

Horsham is way ahead on shops and its Christmas lights have been the best in the south. It is an affluent area with good transport links to London, airports, Guildford and the South Coast.

St Leonard’s Forest, with alleged dragon, is on the doorstep and the North and South Downs within easy reach.

The area is well wooded because of the amount of rain and it also has more frosts and fog, plus thunderstorms which tend to linger.

Air traffic from nearby Gatwick can be annoying.

Bognor was much more Regis in 1945 than it is now, but it’s still by the sea, with safe bathing, and enjoys excellent weather. It has good transport links to Brighton, Portsmouth, Chichester, Arundel, and the South Downs are nearby. Hotham Park, the Picturedrome and station area have improved.

On the downside, Arun District Council has a lot to answer for.

Too many properties converted into flats, with associated problems including narrow roads littered with cars, flowers are in danger of becoming extinct because of cost, and in Marine Ward I witnessed far too much anti-social behaviour.

So, which town did I choose to spend the rest of my retirement? Selsey.

The people are friendly, the weather is excellent and there is the lifeboat station which is well maintained and still its original length and you can walk right out on the gantry.

I could go on but I don’t want more people flocking here. The village atmosphere is just nice as it is.

Mr G Anderson,

Grafton Road,

Selsey