Firms lining up for entertainment deal

The mixture of local and national operators submitted their proposals to replace the Regis Centre.

They have told Arun District Council and its preferred developer, St Modwen, they were able to run a viable venue which combined stage and screen shows.

Arun Arts' general manager Adam Cunard confirmed it was among those which had submitted a formal bid to continue providing entertainment on the Regis Centre site.

The submission had been prepared by leisure experts at Arts Business Ltd on behalf of Arun Arts.

"We are very excited about our bid," he said. "It is very robust and we feel it offers what Bognor needs.

"We feel it fulfils the brief we were given and meets the entertainment needs of Bognor while building on the success we have had here.

"We have included a viable business plan in a scheme which is very community focused and community led.

"We envisage the venue still being run for the community and kept at the heart of the community. We hope we have the support of local people in that aim."

But he said the confidential nature of the bidding process ruled out revealing any details about the proposals.

The Arun Arts proposal and those of the three other hopefuls, which have not been named, will be considered by a selection board of Arun and Bognor town councillors, the Vision community group, St Modwen and leisure consultants Locum tomorrow.

That meeting will compile a final shortlist of potential operators. Those selected will be invited for interviews and to meet St Modwen's architectural and design teams to examine and assess how their proposals can be slotted into the development.

A list of criteria has been agreed by Arun against which the companies' plans will be assessed.

The checklist includes matters such as the strength of the business plan and links with the community.

All these factors will be taken into account when the council's Bognor sub-committee meets on April 14 to select the preferred operator.

This decision will be considered when all Arun's councillors make the final decision on April 30. The chosen firm will then work with St Modwen to turn its proposals into reality.

The initial proposals for the entertainment section of the complex feature a 500-seat main auditorium This would be backed by three smaller auditoriums of between 50 and 150 seats.

The main venue would have the ability to combine stage and screen shows.

Alongside them attraction would be further leisure facilities such as a tenpin bowling alley, cafes, bars and restaurants topped by several storeys of flats. Work on the development should be completed by 2013, though it could be a couple of years earlier.