BORDON businessman Mike Salczynski is set to appeal against a decision made by East Hampshire District CouncilÕs north planning sub-committee to reject his application for an arcade in Chalet Hill.

The decision was made on the grounds that the proposal wouldnÕt support the development of the town centre and also that it would have a negative impact on the residential area nearby.

Mr Salczynski commented afterwards: ÒI think the committee were misinformed. When they had made the decision to refuse it, they then had to ask the planning officer why they were refusing it.

ÒThe noise factor that they expressed problems with does not come into it. The arcade will not be a free-for-all.

ÒThat shop, which was a pet shop, has had 11 failed businesses in it in the last few years and the only other person that I know of who is interested in leasing the shop wants to turn it into a private sex shop.

ÒI donÕt think the public would be very happy with that but what would they rather have - an arcade or a sex shop?Ó

The rejection has been welcomed by Whitehill Town Council, however.

Basil Smith, who represented the town council at the planning meeting last Thursday, told The Herald that he felt ÒelatedÓ at the decision.

ÒI really feel that to put such a place on the route of school children is not a very good thing to do.

ÒIt would encourage an endless waste of money on games and gambling. I do not think that it would do anything for Bordon.

ÒWe already have a betting shop and a nightclub in Bordon and the introduction of an amusement arcade would simply turn it into a secondary Las Vegas.Ó

The committee was told by Chris Murray, area planning manager, that the arcade would involve a number of separate activities.

ÒThe shop would have three sections, which would feature a number of video games, aimed at teenagers, a group of one-armed bandits with low cash prizes; and a separate segregated area where there would be one-armed bandits offering a higher cash jackpot,Ó he said.

ÒThese proposals, wherever they are, will cause concern about moral issues, but we as a planning committee are not here to cast judgment on those issues.Ó

The committee received letters from Whitehill Town Council and district councillor Zoya Faddy objecting to the planning application.

The letters showed concern over parking facilities and also raised doubts that under-age gambling would be controlled.

Roy Whitman, of Somerset Avenue, spoke to the committee on behalf of the residents.

He said: ÒChalet Hill already has problems with unruly youngsters causing problems and this arcade would just add to those problems.

ÒI think the idea is an inappropriate development at an inappropriate time.Ó

The decision was made by a majority vote after Mr Salczynski had addressed the committee.

He told councillors: ÒIÕm fed up with youths travelling to places like Portsmouth and Aldershot to visit arcades when we could have one here.

ÒIÕve been here 14 years now and people are still discussing the idea of a skate park.

ÒIÕm disappointed with the town council for not asking me about its moral issues.

ÒBy using the shop as an arcade I would be giving employment to at least six people.

ÒNo one in the arcade would be under the influence of alcohol because I wouldnÕt be selling it. Children in school uniform would not be allowed in and under 16s would not be admitted without an adult.Ó

The application received mixed reaction from the committee.

David Kidd, Bordon and Whitehill councillor, supported the proposal.

He said: ÒI would like to consider the applicant in my decision. He is a very good entrepreneur and runs three pubs, one of which is in Bordon.

ÒEach issue has been well and truly accounted for and I think that it is a good idea to have something like this in Bordon.

ÒIf you live in the town centre then I think you should expect people to be moving around at night.Ó

Yvonne Parker-Smith, Lindford councillor, was Òtotally horrifiedÓ by the application.

She said: ÒIÕm a member of the Bordon and Whitehill working party and as a party we are trying to encourage people to move into the area.

ÒAn amusement arcade will simply cause people to move away. ItÕs too close to schools and I feel strongly that if a similar application had been made in Alton or Petersfield that it wouldnÕt have even got this far.Ó

In refusing the application the committee overrode case officer Ruth HardingÕs recommendation that it should be given the go-ahead.

In her report the officer stated: ÒIt would be very difficult to defend a refusal on highway grounds, particularly as the engineering services manager has raised no objections.

ÒIt is considered that this use would cause no more vehicular problems than a retail use.Ó

Mr Salczynski, who owns the Prince of Wales pub in Petersfield Road, told The Herald: ÒI will be appealing against the decision because I fulfilled all of the requirements that were asked of me.Ó