Conceptual designs outlining how Littlehampton seafront in West Sussex could be regenerated have received the backing of councillors but could change how coaches and minibuses are able to serve the area, the Littlehampton Gazette reported.
Arun District Council’s Littlehampton regeneration sub-committee endorsed the ideas, which include landscaping, leisure facilities and the potential for new concessions, following them being put out to public consultation in March.
About 300 responses were received to the consultation, which was held over the course of three weeks.
The idea of stopping coaches from parking in Banjo Road, providing new drop off and parking points and exploring new concessions in their place received 62% support. However, councillors raised concerns, with insistence that the coach and minibus trade was crucial to many businesses in Littlehampton.
“Banjo Road is a great opportunity for this council,” said Arun District Council Head of Economy, Denise Vine. “It does provide a very, very modest revenue but it could be significantly more.
“We are feeling significant financial difficulty and we have a responsibility to look for every significant revenue stream that we can. A coach park on a seafront is not a good use of that.”
Chairman Norman Dingemans revised the recommendation calling for the designs to be approved, adding a request for a further review of parking provision for cars and tourist coaches.
