Councillors toast beginning of rejuvenation work on Place St Maur in Bognor Regis

Arun District councillors toasted the beginning of much-anticipated rejuvenation works on Place St Maur in Bognor Regis this morning.

The works, which were first discussed last Summer, will see soft landscaping, water features and new seating introduced to the area, creating a natural funnel from the town centre to the seafront.

Designs detailing the transformation and laying out the plans were laid out for public consultation earlier this year and, in September, got the nod from the majority of respondents. It is hoped the project, which is the result of a successful bid for a £1.2 million grant from Coast to Capital, will mark the first step in the 'regeneration' of the town.

Work is due to start next week and Shaun Gunner, an Arun District Councillor and member of the Coast to Capital Strategic Committee, said the project was a 'symbol of the faith we're all putting in Bognor Regis.'

"(Bognor) is a place that's on the up. We want many more people coming here. We want businesses investing in the town, visitors coming to enjoy it, because it's a fantastic town and this is going to make it even better.

"The response has already been really positive from residents and, what I'm hoping is, this will really regenerate this area, make it a destination area. It's a new plaza in Bognor Regis and it's not often councillors can claim something like that."