Tesco's Express plans for Felpham

The large retail chain wants to build the Bognor Regis area's fourth Tesco Express outlet and the first east of the town centre.

The company revealed this week it is seeking to replace the Richmond Hyundai car sales and repair garage on the A259 Felpham Way at its roundabout junction with Middleton Road.

It says the intended single storey branch would be about 3,000sq ft with a glazed frontage. It could open late next year.

Opening times would be 7am to 11pm. Deliveries would be limited to between 7am and 4pm with a later start at weekends.

"Our aim is to avoid peak traffic hours and to spread deliveries throughout the day to avoid two lorries arriving at the same time," states Tesco's publicity material delivered to nearby homes.

Just 16 parking spaces would be provided, including two for disabled drivers. Tesco claims this reflects that most shoppers will walk or cycle to do their shopping at the intended branch.

Some 30 full and part-time jobs will be created if the store opens.

But Felpham Parish Council chairman Cllr Paul English said the experience of the Tesco Express stores in Aldwick Road, Bognor, and Pagham Road in Nyetimber had him worried about the impact of the planned store.

"Tesco has a history of obstruction when it makes deliveries to its stores," he said.

But he said the situation along Felpham Way was set to change once the Bognor Regis A259 relief road opened.

This was likely to be in two to three years to take away the through traffic from the existing A259.