Making Bognor Better: some thoughts for improvement

We all want to live in a brighter happier place but how can we achieve this and who has the ideas to make it happen ?  Here are some ideas from an ex-Bgonr Town councillor on how to make our town an attractive tourist destination and great place to live.

1. The plan for a new pier (but also keeping the old one) is great, and if more people get behind it, it just might happen. Will cost several million pounds, but I am sure if Weston-super-Mare can have a new pier that we can! Think of the media coverage alone!

2. A Bognor Regis 'NORTH' train station, and put a park and ride scheme on the old LEC site along with any development that takes place. That way the lack of parking in the town centre would not be such a problem and with a shuttle service could even reduce the amount of locals that drive to Tesco's etc.

3. A climbing wall in Hotham Park near to the boating lake so it could be run as a concession, and be locked off safely at night. They have them in Blackpool and they are very popular to all ages.

4. A dry ski slope - not quite sure where, but if we are going to have a tall building on the seafront as part of the regeneration plans, why not just slope the roof of it and put a ski lift and slope on top of / down the side of it - killing two birds with one stone, and giving the building a reason for being tall!

5. A tourist information centre that provides more than just information - why not have a tea room as part of it and locally sourced goods (local farms veg / cheese / honey / eggs etc.) that could not only help promote the whole area, but also help show the variety of products that are on offer (seeing as ARUN plan to close the current one we have).

6. Larger retail units so the 'bigger' retail chains will come here, like HMV, M&S Food etc.

7. Indoor attractions such as an ice rink (that are not dependant on the weather), though fully understand that they cost a lot to run and maintain so putting the 'user' fees up, and resulting in the exclusion a lot of local people, but would bring them in from the surrounding areas.

8. A large hall / open indoor space that could be used for performance, dance, exhibitions, conferences etc. Most towns have them, but ours got converted into The Regis pub for some reason!

9. A kids play area on the main seafront - it could be put on some of the land that is currently taken up by the mounds.

10. What we don't need is any more flats along the seafront, as we have had two new blocks built and they are fine, but if further ones are put on the Regis Centre site it will make the whole area residential and therefore have an effect on the types of events that could be staged on the seafront in the coming years.

11. A beach volleyball pitch / basketball pitch on the seafront like they do in Brighton. They are well used and also help promote a fitter life style.

What does everyone else think?