The Stage

Council funding ‘murdering Bognor Regis entertainment’

Published Tuesday 30 March 2004 at 10:20 by Jeremy Austin

Seafront entertainment in Bognor Regis is being “slowly murdered” by Arun District Council’s funding policy, managing director of the Alexandra Theatre Mark Edwards has warned.

Many of the festivals and events - including the famous International Birdman Rally - have been left facing possible closure or have ended as grant funding was reduced in real terms by the local authority during the past few years. Edwards said the penny-pinching has affected the theatre which borrowed £30,000 from the council over two years after nearly closing. It has been told the money can only be spent on theatre equipment that will belong to the authority.

Said Edwards: “Over recent years Arun District Council has successfully crippled much of Bognor’s tourist economy by demolishing seafront attractions and building flats. Now that most of Bognor’s seafront is residential, Arun has begun picking off the local festivals one by one.”

The Alexandra Theatre has had a troubled recent history. In September, 2002 the theatre emerged from three months in administration after a disastrous 18-month period had seen it accrue debts of around £200,000. Less than a year later it was under threat again after the site was earmarked for new flats.

Head of leisure services at Arun District Council John Stride admitted there had been standstill funding in entertainment provision for the past eight years, which, taking inflation into account, amounts to an annual decrease. But he said this was being felt across the region and not just in Bognor.

He added that entertainment provision was currently under review as part of the regeneration programme for the town. This is being undertaken during the next three to four months, with the results announced in six to eight months, and includes proposals for the demolition of the Alexandra and a new 200-seat venue being built nearby.

Said Stride: “It is part of the regeneration process. It is the first time we have looked at entertainment in and around Bognor. Hopefully it will answer questions in terms of demand. The theatre is in a difficult position because of its funding scenario so it is difficult to invest in theatre in Bognor.”