Regeneration dealjust weeks away

n Health centre '“ St Modwen is talking to West Sussex Primary Care Trust about including a new centre in the development to replace the current 1970s building.

Gary Morris, St Modwen's senior development manager, said: 'We are working with the trust to find a way to achieve a new building to replace what I believe is working to current standards.'

The major stumbling block is the NHS's lack of funds.

n Library '“ The county librarian met Mr Morris last week to discuss moving the London Road library to the new development.

The shift across the town centre was being viewed as a positive move in principle, said Mr Morris. It was seen as a way of providing a modern building to reflect the changes in the services offered by libraries.

This prospect was viewed unfavourably by many of those at the Civic Society meeting.

Shops and 20,000sq ft of offices are also set to be included.

n Car parking '“ more pay and display public parking places will be provided across the two sites than the current 418 spaces.

n Public consultation '“ St Modwen expects to hold two major rounds of public consultation about its emerging designs next year. The first will be in January and likely to be repeated in April before St Modwn submits a planning application. The company also needs the permission of landowner Arun District Council for its proposals. Building work could start in 2010.

REGIS CENTRE:

Until the consultation, it is unclear what leisure and entertainment facilities will be included in the Regis Centre development. A ten pin bowling alley has been suggested along with bars and restaurants.

Civic Society member Gary Oates said he believed the schemes would be waste of time. 'I don't see how any of this is going to regenerate Bognor.

'You are replacing a health centre with a health centre, moving the library, taking away the theatre we have got and putting shops on the Queensway which will be cut off from the rest of the town.

'You are also putting lots of flats on the seafront when we have plenty of flats already,' he stated.