Bognor Regis ‘has held its own and will bounce back’

A number of town centre shops reopened last Monday (June 15), with pubs, cafes and restaurants allowed to welcome customers again from July 4.

Jason Passingham, chairman of the Bognor Regis BID, explained that town centre cameras had recorded an 82 per cent increase in footfall last Monday, which he called a ‘drastic jump’.

There had been couple of small problems with large queues outside some retailers, but these had been sorted ‘quite easily’.

He was giving an update to the Bognor regeneration sub-committee last Wednesday (July 17).

The BID has create unique signs to put up around the town centre to reinforce the need for visitors to maintain social distancing, which would give Bognor a ‘unique feel’.

This artwork is being offered to the surrounding parishes.

In the main traders have reported they have ‘not done too badly and kept their heads above water’, Mr Passingham said.

However some were concerned about reopening.

A lot of restaurants have been offering takeaways, but social distancing would prove a challenge for them and other businesses such as hairdressers.

He thanked the BID’s partners for their help, including Arun District Council and singled out its group head of economy Denise Vine for her ‘sterling’ work.

Tony Dixon (Ind, Aldwick East) described the pandemic as a ‘nightmare scenario’ for the high street.

He said: “My big fear is some businesses will not reopen. Do we have any intelligence? Are we confident most businesses will reopen at some point, or have some thrown in the towel?”

Mr Passingham described how several businesses were already coming to the end of their leases and were weighing up keeping a high street presence or going online only, but this was not necessarily down to Covid.

He said: “By being forced to go online they have found the benefits of expanding their businesses.”

He described being ‘astounded’ by the efforts Bognor businesses had gone to in adapting, and the speed they had done so, in order to survive the lockdown.

He added: “As a town Bognor has held its own, and I think it will bounce back.

“We may have a couple who decide they can make as much money just as an online business rather than a retail business.”

But Mr Passingham felt if units do open up there would be a demand for them given a shortage of available starter units with reasonable rents.

He explained: “Even if we do get gaps what will hopefully happen is we will be nurturing new businesses to take up the gaps.”

Matt Stanley, chairman of the committee, said: “It’s inspiring to see how some of the local businesses have responded in terms of creativity and pace to keep their businesses afloat.”

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