Public praise plan for Asda's Bognor plan as decision looms

Councillors are set to decide whether or not to allow the outlet on Oldlands Farm at Arun District Council's development control committee on December 18.

This is later than was recently expected and is a further delay to the retailer's hopes of coming to the Bognor area.

Council planning officer Keith Wheway said: "Asda have submitted further information and we need to have that looked at by our consultants.

"It is not possible to have that done by the time the agenda is prepared for the November 26 committee meeting. This means the December meeting is the most likely one in which the application will be considered."

It will have taken more than a year for refusal or approval to be given since Asda's announcement of its intention last November.

The company followed that by putting in a detailed planning application for the store, install the infrastructure for a neighbouring business park and build the first 10,000sq ft unit in January.

"We understand that Arun has to take a detailed and thorough approach to assessing development proposals," said Tom McGarry, Asda's property communications manager. "But it has to be said that a year is a long time.

"We feel, though, that we have built an excellent case for our proposals which will bring real benefits to Bognor and to the Arun district.

"We are not just talking about a supermarket. We are also going to be putting in the infrastructure for a business park which has been a long-term ambition of the district council."

He declined to discuss the proposals by Sainsbury's to return to Bognor, as revealed by the Observer.

"There's no planning application for Sainsbury's yet," he pointed out, "and I am focused purely on our planning application and what it could do for Bognor and the district."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people have given the latest bout a unanimous backing to an Asda store at Oldlands Farm.

At least 250 visitors went along to the retail giant's most recent exhibition at the Regis Centre.

All of them were in favour of the company being allowed to build the outlet of 48,000 sq ft selling space at the Oldlands Way site, off the A29.

Among them was Joy Laver (46), of Braemar Way, North Bersted. She said: "Having an Asda at that site is the only way Bognor is going to get high-tech business units up there.

"Asda are willing to come along and put the infrastructure in there to allow that to happen.

"It would also be good for Bognor to have some price wars with Tesco. If Sainsbury's come along as well, the better it will be for shoppers.

"Let's have some choice in Bognor."

Marian Court (52), of Corbishley, Road, Bognor, drives to the Asda at Havant rather than face the difficulty of getting in and out the Tesco car park.

"I use Morrison's in the town centre when I'm at work, but I would rather drive to Asda to do my other shopping than face the hassle of getting in and out of Tesco.

"It would be a really good idea to have an Asda here to give more competition for the stores," she said.

Mr McGarry said: "This is the only exhibition I have been to where everyone has been supportive of our plans. It's wonderful.

"We have had 100 per cent support coming through at this exhibition and I would be surprised if our proposals were refused."

What do you think? Click here to send a letter or leave a comment below.

Click here to go back to Chichester news

Click here to go back to Bognor Regis news

Click here to go back to Midhurst and Petworth news

To tell us where in the world you are reading this story click on the link below to add yourself to our readers' map.

MAP

.