Beachfront lido mooted to lead the regeneration

Jan Cosgrove said the outdoor pool would be a real bonus on days when it was not possible to bathe in the sea.

A sea-filled lido on the beach just opposite the current Regis Centre would attract more people to the promenade, he stated.

'Open air, and affording safe bathing even when the Bognor tide is way out and bringing all relevant concessions, I am sure that such a venture would be the most tremendous hit.

'Lidos are very much coming back into fashion. Bognor is ideal for one and it would increase visitor appeal.'

The lido would be complemented by a family fun centre, of the Flying Fortress variety, next to The Regis on the south end of the car park.

Mr Cosgrove, who is involved in the Regis Centre, said: 'That would be a real additional activity and, if one had some extra vision, the idea I had long ago of an indoor skate park could form the ground floor part of such a site.

'Let's remember that skateboard activity is on the list to become an Olympic sport. A high quality indoor venue in Bognor would put us very definitely on the map.

'These are the new sorts of facilities families want, and which bring all sorts of extras with them such as equipment shops and catering, plus jobs.'

He explained that his alternatives were more realistic to help Bognor's regeneration than the proposed combination of a luxury cinema, with seats 12 each, and multi-purpose theatre. He condemned the proposals as vague, ill-costed and unsustainable.

'We need to address what people will come to Bognor for, and they are more likely to come to such a family centre and lido than to an expensive luxury cinema and '˜half-a-theatre'.

'We have seen the success of bringing local cinema prices down and the current theatre arts centre is proving the success that has always eluded it.

'Let's have a regeneration which is realistic, which does not rely on frankly unbelievable attractions and which brightens up the town,' he added.