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Since I was elected as Mayor in May 2023, I have truly seen the best of Bognor Regis, through the many incredible people I’ve met and the array of wonderful events I’ve been lucky enough to have been invited to attend.

Some highlights that particularly stand out are Proms in the Park, which was one of my first events attended as Mayor alongside our lovely Bognor Regis Town Crier, the Drive through Time Motor Gala was a feast for the eyes and a must-attend for car enthusiasts and Formula One fans! Both organised by the Town Council, they certainly kick-started the summer season of events here in Bognor Regis. In July I was invited to visit the Bishop of Chichester’s Palace Gardens, for his ‘Afternoon Reception’, and attended the poignant commemorations for Armed Forces Day and latterly, Remembrance Sunday. 

Photo credit: Paul Wells

I really enjoyed the Town’s first Punch and Judy Festival, held in September, marking the 60th Anniversary of the making of the film ‘The Punch and Judy Man’, filmed in our Town, and the Christmas Lights Switch-On in the Town Centre was a tremendous success with a record number of people enjoying the festivities on offer, building up to the ‘Big Switch at 6’ itself!

Thursday 6th June 2024 is the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings, the largest Naval, air and land operation in history.

Hundreds of thousands of service personnel, landed on the beaches of Normandy, not knowing if they would return home again, and tragically, many did not.

D-Day was a meticulously planned and complex operation, involving many Nations, who worked together on this tireless campaign, to eventually bring about the liberation of north-west Europe from Nazi occupation, one of the most momentous achievements in living memory.

In this, the 80th year since the D-Day Landings, commemorations are being held, to remember those who helped turn the tide in favour of the Allied Forces of World War II.

As part of the commemorations, Bognor Regis Town Council will be lighting the seafront beacon along with other local communities throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK oversea territories and the beacons along the five beaches of Normandy, where the Landings took place, to signify the light of peace they achieved through their heroic actions in this dark war.

We do hope residents of Bognor Regis will join with us to honour this special Anniversary. Further information on this event, will be made available in due course.

Dear Resident

It’s been another difficult year for most of us with the problems people face induced by the cost-of-living crisis.

The Town Council has concentrated on relieving the pressure on its residents as far as possible, on elements that are within its control, by fixing its precept at the same level as last year whilst attempting to maintain our contributions to the services and events that are important to the residents of Bognor Regis.

In addition to the services and events run by the Town Council and by outside bodies, it is pleasing that Arun District Council are continuing to run the 2-hour Free Parking Scheme which plays such an important part in the commercial life of Bognor Regis. The Business Warden Scheme, supported by the Town Council, improves the Town Centre experience for many residents and visitors alike and we are pleased to maintain this for the next financial year.

The Town Council representatives and staff continue to receive feedback praising the work of Town Force in removing rubbish and graffiti thus improving the look and feel of our Town. Town Force also play a vital part in preparing for and safeguarding events held in Bognor Regis.

We will continue to support our young people, delivering funding to local youth work organisations as well as planning once again to offer a variety of free entertainment during the summer months both by running our own events and supporting outside bodies to run events by providing financial contributions.

The ceremonial turning on of the Christmas Lights, by the Mayor in the Town Centre attended by many residents, once again illustrates the power of working together with local businesses as well as the wider community, and the Town Council was proud to continue to play their part by supplying the Christmas Lights, which were warmly received and will be back again this year.

Photo credit: Sarah Jane Sussex Photography

We continue to experience many improvements to our seaside town. Works are underway at the Alexandra Theatre site, as part of the £15.2 million rejuvenation, which is estimated to be completed in 2025.

Changes could also be on the horizon at the former Brewer’s Fayre site, next to the theatre, with Arun District Council agreeing to the production of a design feasibility study for its possible conversion into a multi-purpose entertainment and leisure space, for community use.

Adjacent to the Regis car park, the new Premier Inn hotel is set to be built, after planning permission was granted at district level. The hotel, which will be developed on the Esplanade on the site of the old fire station, will feature 116 bedrooms, and bring new job opportunities.

£198,000 of funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has been awarded to the Wayfinding Strategy proposals, with partnership working between Bognor Regis Regeneration Board, Arun District Council and Bognor Regis Town Council. Better and more effective use of signage, colour and other important design elements will help visitors navigate their way around our seaside town and create a more positive image of Bognor Regis, whilst making it more accessible. It is hoped that the first phase, covering the area from Bognor Regis Station to Butlin’s via London Road, the High Street and The Esplanade, will commence in 2025 with public consultation on the design process, well underway.

OYEZ, OYEZ, OYEZ!

Following the huge success of the inaugural event in 2022, Bognor Regis Town Council are very excited to be hosting the second ever Bognor Regis Town Crier Competition, on Saturday 22nd June 2024!

Coinciding with the Town’s Armed Forces Day commemorations, Crier’s from across the country will be right here, competing in a series of categories including ‘best home cry’, ‘best themed cry’ and ‘best dressed’.

Presented by our own award-winning Town Crier, Jane Smith, make sure you join us at the seafront bandstand, to witness some of the best in the game proclaiming for their hometowns, and ringing their bells, whilst dazzling the crowds in their colourful and authentic regalia! This unique and entertaining event is not to be missed!

If you run a local business and would be interested in sponsoring the competition, in return for promotion through the Town Council’s various platforms and promotional material specifically for this event, then please get in touch, by emailing: rebeccavervecken@bognorregis.gov.uk

(Event subject to ADC permissions).

Photo credit: Paul Wells

Twinned towns first came to fruition following the Second World War, to encourage good relationships between towns in Europe, at local level.

Bognor Regis is lucky enough to enjoy these relationships with not one, but three counterparts, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés in France and Weil am Rhein and Trebbin in Germany.

In 2024, Bognor Regis celebrates 30 years of twinning with Trebbin, a small town south of Berlin, in the former German Democratic Republic. Since 1994, our two towns have shared many visits at home and abroad, and the Bognor Regis Twinning Association are the vital link in ensuring such relationships are maintained, by organising these exchange visits. Whilst affording members and young people the opportunity of staying with host families, thus providing not only a fantastic and enjoyable cultural and language experience, the visits also ensure these important links are maintained and nurtured by the next generation.

Last year’s visit to Trebbin was another huge success, once again supported by grant funding from Bognor Regis Town Council. This year we welcome our friends from our German twinned towns to Bognor Regis where this special anniversary shall be celebrated.