Entertainment centre may movefrom seafront

The foreshore opposite the current Regis Centre/Hotham Arts Centre location was suggested as the original site for the futuristic facility.

But it has emerged that, while this is still the preference, the entertainment building could be placed elsewhere in the central areas earmarked for 100m worth of regeneration.

This could see it moved on to the Hothamton site or even, if that option proves unsuitable, somewhere else around the town. This would end the town's tradition of such facilities being based along the seafront.

Work on the major redevelopments could start by the end of next year if all the necessary planning approvals and legal agreements are achieved by selected developer St Modwen Properties.

Arun District Council leader Cllr Gill Brown told councillors that it was important to keep all potential sites in mind as the regeneration got underway.

She said at last week's meeting of the full council: 'As far as the location for the entertainment centre is concerned, the first point where we would like it to be is the beach. That's where the local people want it to be.

'If it does not become feasible on that site, we didn't want to miss the opportunity to put it somewhere else when those sites fill up with other things.

'We will look at those sites and then look elsewhere if they don't become available.'

The council had made every commitment to an entertainment centre '“ to replace the current Hotham Arts Centre '“ in its development brief for the regeneration, said Cllr Mrs Brown (Aldwick East).

The facility's future hinges on a new study which is taking place. Locum Consulting is carrying out the work on behalf of developer St Modwen Properties.

Locum's employees '“ based in Haywards Heath '“ will report on how viable new entertainments facilities will be if they are included in the large-scale redevelopment of Bognor town centre.

A 500-capacity multi-purpose building has been provisionally identified as being suitable for the long term future following an initial survey two years ago into which general entertainment facilities were thought to be suitable for Bognor.

But the latest study is intended to determine the entertainment centre which would be the most appropriate to Bognor's needs and demands. It also needs to be sustainable and able to survive without any subsidy from Arun.

Cllr Mrs Brown stated that any organisation which could produce a good business case would be invited to consider running the centre if it went ahead. They would include the theatre's current operator, Hotham Arts, and the leisure trust, Inspire Leisure.

Cllr Dr James Walsh (Littlehampton Beach) said he was concerned that the regeneration of Bognor could lack an entertainment centre.

'It's an integral part of what was sold to the people of Bognor,' he stated. It was important the operation of any new centre was advertised as widely as possible.

He said he would be unhappy if only the amateur entertainment providers '“ Hotham Arts and Inspire Leisure '“ were invited to run the facilities.