Store will help keep consumers in town

It is estimated by retailing experts quoted by the firm that about 65m worth of shopping a year is done by Bognor residents away from their home town.

That is about half of their 120-130m annual retail spending.

Asda development surveyor Barney Harle said the company's presence would complement the planned town centre regeneration to boost Bognor's retailing profile.

'They are the chance to change the reputation of Bognor as a shopping environment.

Instead of people going to Chichester to shop, this is the opportunity for the bigger town to become the town it should be.'

Mr Harle said other favoured destinations of Bognor residents who travelled to shop were Littlehampton and Worthing and as far as Portsmouth.

'We believe that 50 per cent of shopping spend should remain locally,' he commented.

'The trade is there. People are living in Bognor, they are sleeping and eating in Bognor but they are not spending money here because there is not sufficient shopping.

'The town needs more competitive food retailing. Tesco and Morrison are trading at full capacity,' he claimed.

'With a large population growth in the housing along the Bognor northern relief road, someone has to serve these people.

'If the town doesn't have the stores, people will continue to go elsewhere.'

Mr Harle said the presence of Asda about two miles from the town centre would also benefit those central shops.

'A lot of people who live in the town don't come anywhere near the town centre. They drive to Chichester and do all their shopping there.

'If people drive, seven, ten and 15 miles on Saturdays to go shopping they will not bother to come back to Bognor town centre.

'If they are going a mile or two to Asda, they are more likely to use the town centre as well,' he said.