See Santa at Brick Kiln See more on page 11
SOUTH’S PREMIER OAK FURNITURE STOCKIST
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Issue: 136
Bognor Regis Post ISSN 2397-8724
BognorRegisPost Your FREE weekly independent newspaper
Friday, December 7, 2018
t es er g r p La spa p s ' i ea ew sh Ar E N der E a FR Re www.bognorregispost.co.uk
Protests over hotel homes DOZENS of residents have objected to plans for homes alongside the most historic hotel in Bognor Regis. THey say the scheme for four terraced houses would ruin the view of the Grade II-listed Royal Norfolk Hotel. THe hotel was built in the 1840s. It is a major feature in THe Steyne and Waterloo Square Conservation Area. Among the 36 letters of objection to the housing scheme by Mr and Mrs D. Skinner is one from Greg Burt, chairman of Bognor Regis Local History Society. Writing in a personal capacity to Arun District Council, he said: "It will have a detrimental effect on the conservation area, by virtue of the loss of an open area which helps define the character of the area. "It will be to the detriment of the setting of one of the town's most prominent and highest quality listed buildings. "THe council's own conservation area guidance says that open spaces in the broadest possible sense should be retained and preserved." He called on Arun to buy the potential development site on the hotel's former tennis courts to create a public open space to be used as a garden or play area. Kevin Swadling, who was the hotel's managing director some ten years ago, also told the council he made informal enquiries about developing the former tennis courts. "We were categorically advised that as it was a conservation area any development
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would be detrimental to the area and as such would be refused. "Since then, I do not see anything has changed. In summary, I call upon the planning department to refuse this application on the grounds it is a creeping development in a conservation area which is contrary to the local plan." Bognor Regis Town Council has objected to the proposal. Its town clerk, Glenna Frost, said: "Members were concerned about the effect of the proposed development on the setting of the Royal Norfolk Hotel. "It was also felt that loss of open space to the east of the hotel would harm the character of the conservation area." In their objection, West Street residents Valerie Logan-Clarke and Colin Clark state: "Any new development so close to the Grade II-listed Royal Norfolk Hotel would destroy forever the character and setting of the hotel and its surrounding area, in which there are a number of Grade-II listed buildings, as well as a number of other buildings of historic and architectural importance." THey have also pointed out three earlier applications to build on the site, next to West Street, had been rejected. In a heritage impact assessment for Mr and Mrs Skinner, consultants GMH Planning say: "With a high quality design, materials and detailing including landscaping and boundary treatment, the proposal would enhance the character and appearance of the conservation area."
Plastic campaign is backed
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Christmas cheer in The Arcade - see page 11
Record support for town's foodbank
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