INCIDENTS attended by West Sussex firefighters between 9am yesterday (Wednesday, February 22) and today (Thursday, February 23) include:

Wednesday, February 22, 10.39am to 11.01am:

First floor flat, Orchard Street, Chichester – small fire involving tea towel on hob of cooker. Breathing apparatus and fan used to ventilate. Two crews from Chichester in attendance.

Wednesday, February 22, 11.16am to 11.43am:

Aldwick Road, Aldwick – crash involving two cars. One man treated by paramedics at the scene for minor cuts and bruises. One woman treated for signs of shock. Road closed for vehicle recovery. Two crews from Bognor in attendance, incident left with police.

Wednesday, February 22, 11.24am to 11.46am:

Detached house, in Grand Avenue, Worthing – Small fire in ground floor room. Damaged areas damped down and house ventilated. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental. Two crews from Worthing in attendance.

All information is provided by West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

As part of the jubilee memories of people in the Observer area, we are keen to find out any information on Margaret Dummer, who was elected Miss Chichester in 1953.

The teen beauty queen led the city’s coronation procession on June 2 that year – the day after her 17th birthday. Miss Dummer, who was 16 at the time and lived in Woodcote Avenue in Westerton, beat 12 other entrants to take the crown.

Bearing a strong resemblance to a young Elizabeth Windsor, the story in the Observer at the time read: “Miss Dummer appeared in a green party frock and white shoes. She has dark, curly hair, hazel eyes, and is 5ft 4ins tall. This is not the first time she has taken a public bow: she is extremely keen on amateur dramatics and has appeared in several productions in Chichester. Her ambition is to become a proficient actress.

“As a member of the Pallant Players, Miss Dummer appeared this week as Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest. A month ago she was in a one-act play presented by Chichester Girls’ Club. She also belongs to the Canon Gate Players and was seen in their productions of The Other Inn and The Lady Mislaid.”

If you have any details about Miss Dummer or the coronation celebrations in 1953, email vintage@chiobserver.co.uk or write to Unicorn House, Eastgate Square, Chichester PO19 1JN.

Much has been written over the past few weeks about Britain’s drinking habits.

We are hitting the bottle like never before and David Cameron has said he plans to take action. He is considering everything from a minimum price per alcoholic unit to Drunk Tanks; places where the inebriated can be chucked into until they sober up.

But no-one seems to be asking the obvious question: why are people drinking so much?

The way we drink has changed. When I started going to the pub, my mates and I would drink pints of beer. We would take it in turns to get a round in and by the time the evening was over, four or five beers each would have been consumed. With bellies bloated with ale we would leave the pub and totter home.

These days, and I notice it more with the younger generations, drinkers consume the kind of concoctions designed to get them to destination oblivion within the hour. Lurid blue mixtures or shots are downed at such a rate that drinkers are legless before the evening has really begun.

And it’s not just the kids whose boozing has accelerated. Behind closed doors the middle-aged are, apparently, swigging wine in a manner worthy of Bacchus himself.

I do not think for one moment that a minimum price per unit of alcohol or tougher laws to combat the behaviour caused by excessive drinking will make the slightest difference.

Before resorting to knee-jerk over-reactions, David Cameron should consider that people are drinking to excess because they are unhappy, fearful and in need of a means of escape.

In our over-regulated, over-taxed and overcrowded country, the nation is being driven to drink. People are finding life tough and unforgiving, with the pressure and stresses of modern life leaving them anxious for something to blunt the edges of reality.

Be it fear of unemployment or losing a home, relationship problems, not achieving perfection or failing to live up to the expectations of others, the never ending pressure to hit targets, deadlines and quotas or the feeling of inadequacy because you don’t look like the models in the glossy magazines or on TV – it all fuels our insecurities and piles on the misery.

These are not in any way excuses for excessive and dangerous drinking, but I think people are increasingly using alcohol as a crutch. I enjoy a drink and freely admit to opening a bottle to counter the stresses of a long day or the mundane commute. I don’t believe I’m alone.

Britain has a drink problem, no doubt about it, but none of the proposed measures will provide a solution. The reasons for excessive drinking run a lot deeper and it is something that a politician chasing votes won’t sort out until he looks at the causes rather than the effects.

** Bargains galore for your little ones

My sitting room looks like a jumble sale. Once again Mrs B is busy labelling items destined for the National Childbirth Trust’s nearly-new sale, this coming Saturday at Chichester College Sports Hall from 11.30am-1pm.

A splendid array of goodies – toys, baby and children’s’ books, clothes and equipment – go along and grab your bargains and help this brilliant parenting charity at the same time. Jolly good cakes on offer too!

Gamblers could find themselves placing bets at a casino in Bognor Regis.

The prospect of one of the businesses helping to regenerate the town has been raised by councillors.

They agreed to be kept informed of developments in the gambling industry in response to a request from the National Casino Industry Forum.

But the council’s licensing committee members at last Friday’s (February 17) meeting declined to answer to a question to say if they were interested in the area hosting a casino.

Cllr Barbara Oakley (Middleton) said it was important the council kept an open mind about the arrival of a casino. “We should not be slamming the door on this idea. It certainly needs to be discussed by the regeneration committee.

“There is an argument you can use a casino as a regeneration ploy.

“You could argue you could drop the miniplex idea from the Regis Centre redevelopment idea and use a casino instead. It would solve everybody’s problems,” she said.

She pointed out a casino might also suit Butlin’s in the ongoing improvement of its site in Bognor.

She said: “This is the sort of thing they might be interested in. It could appeal to a large number of their customers.

“We should not respond to any specific questions from the forum but we should ask to be receive further information when it becomes available.

“If we do get an application in, we will then know how to deal with it.”

Cllr Alan Gammon (Brookfield) said: “I don’t know if a casino is a good thing or a bad thing. I don’t think they are wonderful but some people like them and we have to keep our options open.”

Cllr Tony Squires (Ham) said: “We have got these developments going on in Bognor and Littlehampton. There might be a demand for a casino in them. We don’t know.”

Forum chief executive Malcolm Moss told Arun in a letter: “All the evidence suggests casinos can be significant drivers of employment and investment, attracting both consumers and other leisure and retail operators to an area.”

He estimated a casino would employ 100-200 staff and provide further work through supply contracts and adding value to the surrounding economy.

He said modern casinos were usually developed alongside hotels as part of a tourist hub. The limited number of casinos meant they often attracted customers from a wide area.

“These extra consumers drive up footfall and have a beneficial effect on other local businesses and the night-time economy,” he stated.

He said ‘a number of councils’ had been approached to find out the level of interest around the country.

A FINAL call is being made to firms across the area for this year’s Observer and Gazette Business Awards.

The deadline to place your nomination is Saturday, so don’t miss out on the chance to see either your own company shine or show your support for enterprising efforts during the past year.

With our biggest-ever tally of 19 categories for our 2012 awards, we have already seen a wide range of responses from businesses keen to promote their success amid testing times.

But we are eager to attract as diverse a mix of companies as possible to have the chance to be put forward for an accolade.

With awards up for grabs in everything from start-up firm of the year, medium business of the year, through to the lifetime achievement category, it is set to be another memorable event.

So if you are involved with a business across Chichester, Midhurst, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, don’t be shy in putting your companies forward.

This year’s awards will be capped off by a glitzy black-tie evening at the end of next month compered once again by ITV’s Fred Dinenage at the Hilton Avisford Park on Friday, March 30. As past winners have told us, gaining an award has had a significant impact for companies in terms of their marketing and the prestige that comes with claiming an independently-judged award.

Make your nominations online at www.josouthevents.co.uk to see all 19 categories or email jeanette.hockley@chiobserver.co.uk with your nominations- either for your own firm or other worthy candidates across our area.

MILLIONS of pounds worth of investment in a new John Lewis store for Chichester is fast taking shape in the city.

Located in Portfield Way on the site of the former MFI and Paul Simon outlets, it will be opening on Thursday, April 5, in time for the key Easter trading period.

As an At Home branch, its focus is on core electrical and furnishing goods, with additional ranges of travel and nursey products in response to customer feedback. There will also be cafe faciltiies at the two-storey store which features 350 car parking spaces. The launch day will feature live music performances and entertainment for customers.

Gavin Smith, occupation manager with the firm, is responsible for the final stage delivery of the project and believed it is well on course for completion.

He said: “We are on target for the store opening before Easter trading in April. It has had its challenges due to it having previously been two stores that we are creating ours from. Once the construction work is finished we will be doing the final shop work in eight days, which includes moving £3m worth of stock in just three days.

“Each shop has its own design elements which make it different from others in the group and in Chichester’s case that is in the layout of its escalator and some different offerings including nursery and travel goods.”

Branch manager Claire Dunkason is joining from her present role at the retailer’s Poole store and will shortly be joined by her team of around 140 employees next month.

She said: “I am so excited that we are going to be openign in just a few weeks time. For me this is all about the people that work here and they will be working at other stores including Southampton in the month before we open so they will familiarise themeselves with the company.”

Computer terminals in the branch will allow shoppers to browse the wider johnlewis.com assortment including fashion, beauty and carpets and order for home delivery or next day collection at the shop via the retailer’s ‘click and collect’ service.

This allows customers to order products from johnlewis.com before 7pm and collect them at the branch after 2pm the following day or opt for home delivery.

Advertiser’s announcement

AN online business directory has hit out at unethically placed listings and reviews in the West Sussex area.

Find It, powered by Qype, Europe’s leading consumer reviews site, has cut thousands of misleading or malicious reviews from its 13.5 million online listings.

Taking a tough stance on third parties who abuse online reviews, Find It and Qype have taken down over two thousand fake reviews in the last month. Around three per cent of new reviews have been deleted since the partnership declared war on unethical listings.

With a new review appearing every 30 seconds on everything from hostels and tourist attractions to hairdressers and minicab companies, Find It and Qype have implemented a continuous campaign to keep the directory clean and ensure all business listings and reviews for West Sussex are accurate and fair.

Find It, powered by Qype, is committed to stopping people who use its listings for financial gain, and aims to stamp out biased or unreliable reviews.

“Find It is the number one source for trusted local reviews and listings, and working with Qype we want to ensure every single listing is independent and impartial,” said Andy Prior, digital product manager at Johnston Press.

Find it, powered by Qype, gives immediate access to over two million independent reviews on everything from quirky cafés and clubs to plumbers and primary schools. Covering 166,000 locations worldwide, including thousands of real reviews on the best places to go in West Sussex, Find it powered by Qype is an indispensable guide for locals, at home or away.

THE KETTLE has boiled as a new Barnham coffee morning gathers steam.

Following a successful start, organisers of the village’s newest coffee morning would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone who wants to drop in for a cuppa and a good old chat.

Organiser Kathleen Whitby said: “I am really pleased with how the first session went. Myself and Kate who works in the parish council office decided to set the morning up to give people an opportunity to drop in for a drink and a chat.

“We want a morning where people can drop in whenever they feel like it and go whenever they want. We hope the morning has a wide appeal. Anyone of any age is welcome – you don’t have to live in Barnham.”

It runs 10.15am-midday on Wednesdays at the Barnham Bridge Inn.

BANDSMEN who have been playing at Buckingham Palace brought their musical skills to Bognor Regis.

The Squadronaires entertained an audience of some 250 people in a concert organised by the town’s RAFA branch.

Their appearance at the Riverside Centre gave cadets from the No 2351 (Bognor Regis) Squadron Air Training Corps’ band the chance to show off their talents as well.

RAFA marketing co-ordinator David Hewing said: “The cadets gave a well-received performance of forces favourites and drum sequences.”

The photograph shows the cadets seated in front of the Squadronaires (left to right): Cadets Cpl D O’Leary, S Longcroft, K Smith, J Drudge, C Moat, H Jundula, Flt Sgt Casper, Sgt Ashmore and D McCaffrey.

The Squadronaires are members of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Northolt.

Among those in the audience was Bognor’s town mayor, Jim Brooks.

Hopes are still high for a watersports centre in Bognor Regis.

Arun District Council chief executive Nigel Lynn said he had met top executives at Butlin’s recently to talk about the multi-million-pound project.

“This is still quite feasible at the moment and is something we are still talking about. There is still a very, very good chance it will happen.

“It will be a new attraction for the town and it will bring in a new clientele. It is a way of getting different people into the town and spending money here,” he said at last Friday’s meeting of Bognor Regis Civic Society.

He spoke about the third hotel which Butlin’s is building on its Bognor site and its success before its opening in helping to attract improved bookings.

“Butlin’s is on the up. I hope we can work with them in the future so we can get the very best for the town,” he said.

The watersports centre is proposed for the Gloucester Road car park. A study by the University of Chichester showed it was a possibility and the university, Butlin’s and Arun agreed to jointly pursue the proposals.

No definite plans have yet been produced, but it is likely to cater for windsurfers and canoeists. A wave machine could also be installed to provide an all-year attraction for new visitors to the town.

But a way of overcoming the loss of parking spaces would have to be found.

Bognor resident Steve Goodheart urged Mr Lynn to ensure any regeneration proposals for the town improved the seafront.

He said: “The seafront is the jewel in the town’s crown. It needs to be looked after with imagination and creativity. St Modwen (Arun’s redevelopment partner) needs to do something on that seafront.

“If you only have a strip of tarmac, which it is now, it will just denigrate everything else around the town.

“The seafront is a unique selling point for Bognor and needs to be handled in such a way so we can get interesting activities taking place on there.”

A potential £7m boost for economic growth in Bognor Regis could be on its way.

A bid for the funding has been submitted to the Growing Places scheme to kickstart development.

Anthony Everitt, Arun District Council’s senior economic development officer, said the money would unlock one of the town’s sites identified for commercial use if it was awarded by the Coast to Capital local enterprise partnership.

He declined to give details of the area concerned, because of commercial confidentiality, but said the bid had received plenty of support from other agencies.

He told the council’s regeneration sub-committee: “We submitted the bid by the January 31 deadline. The process has been described as a call for arms, or it could be seen as inviting expressions of interest.

“I would expect Coast to Capital to come back to us reasonably quickly in the next couple of months to discuss the process and pick our brains to explore our bid in detail.”

The submission was made by the enterprise@Bognor Regis initiative’s six-strong officer working group of two members from Arun and one each from Coastal West Sussex, West Sussex County Council, Bognor Regis Regeneration Board and the University of Chichester.

Enterprise@Bognor Regis has arisen from the failed Enterprise Zone bid from last year.

This wanted to develop Oldlands Farm for an advanced manufacturing park, the nearby Salt Box site for an office/knowledge park and small business units and the former Lec airfield for business use.

Sub-committee member Cllr Trevor Bence (Pevensey) said it was important existing firms knew the work was under way to promote economic growth in Bognor.

“We need to be shouting this from the tallest trees.

“We should be telling people running businesses – small, medium and large – we can unlock this land if we are successful with the bid.

“We need to be telling them as quickly as we can,” he said.

“These people make long-term plans and they could be looking to move out because there is currently very little opportunity for them.

“We don’t want to lose any more people and any more jobs from the town.”

Coast to Capital has been given £16,024,526 from the government for Growing Places schemes in its area stretching from Bognor up to Epsom and Ewell.

Interest in the fund has been high. A significant number of new projects has been submitted for funding.

Tim Wates, vice-chairman of Coast to Capital, said: “The Growing Places fund is an exciting initiative that will unlock stalled projects. Enabling these projects to start will boost economic growth. The fund is designed to revolve so it is expected most or all of the money will be paid back, and we are aiming for a return on our investment.”

The working group will commission a report into how key sites around north-east Bognor can be brought into use and find funding sources.

It could also consider providing start-up funding for businesses as well as premises.

Mr Everitt said: “If we can provide both of those, that is a cocktail which could be really potent and could be a lot stronger than anywhere else.”

Cllr Roger Elkins (Ferring) said: “This is fantastic news for Bognor. These proposals will deliver jobs for the town.”

FIREFIGHTERS in West Sussex are reminding chip lovers to be vigilant as part of National Chip Week (February 20 to 26).

Almost 60 per cent of all accidental house fires in West Sussex are started in the kitchen, with the majority caused by unattended or careless cooking. Leaving a chip pan unattended for even a short time can have disastrous results as the oil can easily overheat and ignite. A simple switch from the pan to the oven or a temperature controlled deep-fat fryer can help prevent the worst.

Community risk reduction officer, Jackie Boyle, said: “I’m sure chips will be on many people’s menus during National Chip Week. People assume that cooking chips in a pan of hot oil is a thing of the past, but we know from the incidents our crews attend that it’s still popular. Last month a lady in Crawley sustained serious burns attempting to tackle a chip pan fire which shows just how dangerous it can be.

“We’d recommend oven chips as a safer and healthier option, but if people do choose to fry then please ensure you stand by your pan - don’t be tempted to leave it unattended. If you are unlucky enough to have a chip pan fire, please don’t try and tackle it yourself, especially not with water, it could put your life in serious danger.”

Tips on frying safely:

. Most kitchen fires occur when people leave things unattended. Don’t get distracted while cooking, if you are called away from the cooker take pans off the heat

. Never fill a chip pan (or other deep-fat fryer) more than one-third full of oil

. Consider using a thermostatically controlled deep-fat fryer - this will ensure that the fat does not get too hot

. Test it Tuesday – fit a smoke alarm on each level of your home and don’t forget that weekly test!

If a pan catches fire:

. Don’t move it – it is likely to be extremely hot

. Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so – but never lean over a pan to reach the controls

. Don’t use water on a chip pan fire – the water reacts with the oil creating a potentially lethal fireball

. Don’t use a fire extinguisher on a pan of oil – the force of the extinguisher can spread the fire

. If you have put the fire out, leave the pan to cool completely.

CRITICISM of Bognor Regis’ place as a poor relation has been made by a councillor.

Cllr Paul Wells said Arun District Council was prepared to spend £1m on improving Littlehampton’s East Bank of the River Arun.

But the council had always been reluctant to open its coffers to back Bognor.

“I find it hard to swallow as a resident of Bognor that the council can find that amount of money to spend on a one-off project in Littlehampton.

“But when it comes to Bognor the only money which is available has to be from S106 funds (from developers in return for planning permission) or from grants,” he told the civic society’s meeting last Friday.

“Now we have to wait for St Modwen to come along and provide a multiplex on the Regis Centre site. Yet the political will exists at the district council to find £1m from taxpayers’ money, much of it from the Bognor area, to spend in Littlehampton.”

He said when Butlin’s paid more than £2m to Arun for a new lease to stay in Bognor the council refused to allow even some of the money to be earmarked for the town and said it had to be used for the district’s benefit.

Nigel Lynn, Arun’s chief executive, said the council was willing to finance schemes to benefit Bognor.

“We want to spend money in the town and put all the money from those projects back into the Regis Centre site,” he said.

The improvement scheme in Littlehampton will be centred on Pier Road as part of a project to create better flood defences.