VOTE: Bognor To Let signs '˜should only be allowed for one month'

Councillor Jim Brooks said the notices scattered around the town centre’s empty shops were giving the area a poor reputation.

“There have been a number of these big signs in Bognor for months making the place empty and unwanted. It’s not necessary. There should be a limit of a month for them and then, perhaps, there could be a smaller notice or the details could go on the internet,” said Cllr Brooks (Ind, Marine).

Cllr Brooks was speaking at Arun District Council’s full meeting last Wednesday when councillors agreed to spend £110,000 on an initiative to fill some of the town centre’s empty space.

The expenditure forms part of the £600,000 Kickstart funding allocated to the district council from West Sussex County Council.

This will also be spent on £100,000 to oversee the delivery of enterprise@BognorRegis; £240,000 to complete a masterplanning exercise for enterprise@BognorRegis; £30,000 to help Coastal West Sussex market Bognor; and £120,000 to put towards a fund to improve the town centre.

Cllr Francis Oppler (Lib Dem, Orchard) said it was important some money was spent soon in the town centre to enable residents to see the progress being made.

Cllr Phil Hitchins (Con, Aldwick West) said: “We must, as a town, capitalise on the expansion of Butlin’s, getting as many as possible to spend their money in Bognor. If we don’t do it now, someone else will. We have some excellent ideas. We just need to get a move on and implement them.”

Cllr Norman Dingemans, Arun’s member in charge of regeneration, said a total of £320,000 would be available to improve the central street scene when funding from the district council and Sainsbury’s was added.

What do you think?

Should To let signs only be allowed to stay up for a month? Cast your vote in the poll to the right of the screen and leave your comments below.