Better bus stops sought for Bognor Regis

BETTER bus stops are being sought for Bognor Regis town centre.

The passenger information systems would encourage more people to use public transport, the town’s deputy mayor has said.

Cllr Jim Brooks said he wanted to see the IT systems bought with the £260,000 which Sainsbury’s had agreed to spend on improving bus services around the town.

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The displays are constantly updated and give passengers details of the next services and when they are due. Two have been installed in Yapton village centre as the first in the Arun district.

“The displays would help buses to be used more in Bognor by telling people more information about them. I understand the buses in the area are equipped with the technology,” he said. “But the county council told me we could not have any bus stops with the displays with money from S106 planning agreements.”

These legal deals are usually signed by developers as a condition of being granted planning permission.

Sainsbury’s has, however, agreed to give £900,000 towards Bognor as a goodwill gesture surrounding the opening of its new store on Shripney Road.

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Work on preparing the site for the 55,000sq ft outlet at the former Lec factory should begin next year.

The retailer has agreed £260,000 of its money should go on making bus services better.

But Cllr Brooks said it was important the funding was not just spent on running services which connected Sainsbury’s to the town centre.

He made his plea at last week’s Joint Western Arun Area Committee where it was backed by the chairman.

County councillor Michael Coleman said: “You can certainly have more support for this.”