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Written 25/08/03
An urgent meeting is being called for by Bognor Regis town councillors as
part of their efforts to buy back the town hall.
On Monday, the town council's policy and resources committee agreed
unanimously to write to Arun District Council, the building's owners, to
demand quicker progress in talks about the civic building.
This month's liaison meeting between the two local authorities
featured the issue on the agenda, as will the meeting to be held in
October.
Committee members said they were unhappy with the slow rate of progress
which would be caused by meetings held just a few times a year.
The councillors decided to pay for an independent valuation of the 74
year old building. They felt this was preferable to relying on a joint
valuation with Arun District Council.
Sylvia Olliver the town's deputy town mayor, said: "I would rather have
a separate valuation, even if it costs a little more. It gives us an
independent figure".
Any valuations would have to be conducted by the councils on the same
basis, commented the town council's clerk, Kate Gill.
Whether or not the town council took over an empty building, or one
occupied by Arun's employees would need to be taken into account.
Further negotiations would then be based on comparable surveys.
The town council received unanimous backing to buy back the town hall
at this year's meeting of Bognor electors.
The town hall was built by the former Bognor Urban District Council but
was acquired by Arun following local government reorganisation in 1973.
The prospect of its demolition as part of the Bognor regeneration
master plan prompted a 10,0333 signature petition against the proposal.
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