Bognor jet skiers angry at ramp closure

The public facility has been shut by Arun District Council since Easter for maintenance. No date has been given for its re-opening.

The concrete ramp was opened for the four days of the Easter weekend, as usual, after the week closure only to be promptly shut the next day.

One of the regular users, Terry Skilton, said: "The ramp has been closed by a barrier all winter. Why couldn't the work have been done then?

"The ramp has been shut all winter and a board put across to stop any flooding.

"We all understand that and expect it. But we came back down after Easter and it was closed.

"It doesn't make sense to close it again in April when it's just been shut for months."

Croydon resident Mr Skilton (36) is among a group of jet skier owners who travel to Bognor most weekends to enjoy themselves on the sea off the beach.

At Easter, there were eight of them braving the poor weather to have some fun on the waves. This number swells to up to 45 in the summer. Many of those are joined by their wives and partners and children.

Some rent accommodation at the Riverside Caravan Centre. Others have bought properties in Pagham and Aldwick for their weekend visits.

Mr Skilton, who works in property maintenance, said: "Bognor is an ideal place to launch.

"Most of the ramps we could use are in marinas and you have to go away from the shore once you have launched and no one can see you.

"That's not the case in Bognor. Our wives and children can sit on the beach and watch us or they can go shopping in the town centre nearby.

"There's kiosks on the seafront where we can get something to eat and drink as well.

"Some places don't allow jet skis any more anyway. But it's not a case nowadays of youngsters with their toys."

Bognor was also easy to reach from the south London area, he added.

A council spokesman said the closure was unavoidable. "The engineers are working to resolve the problems as quickly as possible and hope to re-open the ramp shortly, ensuring its use remains uninterrupted for the popular summer months," he said.

Major repairs to the ramp were always carried out in spring when the weather has improved.

This was usually before Easter. But this year's early Easter meant the work had to be held over until afterwards.

He added: "If the ramp was kept open and not repaired, it would result in worse problems and longer closures in the future."