Traders ‘too mean’ to back free parking in Bognor Regis

The businesses have declined to contribute to a scheme in the town which would mirror the successful operation in Littlehampton.

BRighter Bognor’s Peter Coles told councillors: “We believe that Bognor Regis businesses and the town council were offered free parking on the same basis as Littlehampton.

“Bognor’s traders were asked to pay between them £7,000 a year. For only 70 of the many businesses in the town that is less than £2 a week each. Bearing in mind these are accountants, lawyers, banks and phone shops, as well as large and small retailers, we’re amazed that these businesses didn’t see this as worthwhile.”

His criticism at the full meeting of Arun District Council was immediately followed by further remarks from Stan Jonas, the chairman of BRighter Bognor’s 230-plus members.

He said: “Free parking is an attractive objective. Everybody would like something for nothing but our supporters know this is not free money. Using the Sainsbury’s money (for parking) would be taking it from other worthwhile community activities.”

Their comments re-ignited the debate about free parking in Bognor. The town’s civic society has called for £500,000 from Sainsbury’s contribution to the town from its store on the former Lec site to wipe out parking charges at sites such as Hothamton and Fitlzeet.

Brighter Bognor’s claims provoked a furious response outside the meeting.

Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce president and chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson said: “The small traders in the town would bear too large a burden in paying for the parking.

“The branches of the national retailers, though we’re glad we have them, are under the control of their head offices and would not be able to contribute.

“I am sure when the economy has improved the businesses in Bognor would be willing to help pay for free parking.

“But we are after the Sainsbury’s money to tide us over for the next year or two until that happens.”

Bognor Regis Civic Society chairman Hugh Coster said: “All the major elected bodies in Bognor – ourselves, the town council and the chamber of commerce as well as the TBI business group – want free parking.

“BRighter Bognor are not elected by anyone and represent no-one. It’s surprising Arun are prepared to listen to an organisation like that rather than the elected groups in the town. We’ve collected more than 5,000 names on our petition for free parking and it’s those people the council should take account of.”

A date has yet to be decided to hand over the free parking petition to the district council.