PETERSFIELD businesses have been urged to unite to promote the town in a bid to end bickering among the groups currently working. Vernon Peake, chairman of Petersfield Marking Ltd, the group which has organised the Christmas lights for the last three years and which holds the licence to hold events in The Square, spoke out as relations between several businesses in Petersfield have deteriorated in recent months. Mr Peake decided to speak out after he was approached by Philip Haines, the chairman of Petersfield Tomorrow's Town Design Statement Group, and fellow member Johnathan Berry, who have expressed an interest in taking over Petersfield Marking Limited (PML) and the Christmas lights. "They are particularly interested in holding the licence for The Square to put on extra events," said Mr Peake this week. "Having spoken to the district council, which owns The Square and grants the licence, and to whom PML is responsible, and also having spoken to the town council regarding the future of the Christmas lights, nothing at this stage can be confirmed." He added: "As chairman of PML, I and my directors will be considering all those who have expressed interest in the future of Petersfield Marketing Ltd and come to a decision later in the year." Mr Peake said he did not want to become embroiled in the politics surrounding the business groups in the town, but he felt it was time for a reassessment. "I am of the opinion that there are too many splinter groups dealing with the future of Petersfield and The Square and I am asking that the right departments – Petersfield Town Council and East Hampshire District Council – wake up to the fact and make a firm decision to employ one body to deal with the future of Petersfield and its requirements." He said the public was confused by the roles of the Association of Petersfield Businesses (APB), newly formed in April, his own Petersfield Marketing Limited, and two groups acting under the umbrella of Petersfield Tomorrow – the Town Design Statement group which organised the bank holiday festivities and the Retail and Business Group. The latter held a meeting the same night as the APB last Wednesday. APB unveiled its December 7 Christmas festivities in the Rose Room. Shortly afterwards, at the Square Brewery, Petersfield Tomorrow held its first meeting to tackle the market Square issue. "It would be far easier to have one group then people would not be seen to be fighting each other. There would be one body for outside influences to deal with and a clear message going out from the town instead of three different ones. "And perhaps most importantly, there will be one body to benefit from grants from town and district council and lottery funding, instead of three different ones looking for financial support." Mr Peake said the Town Design Statement's holiday festivities run under the umbrella of Petersfield Tomorrow had confused the public regarding the use of the High Street and The Square. "Pedestrianisation of the High Street was never the main topic of the design statement, it was about the use of The Square and the idea was to find out how it could be used more effectively and efficiently, but the pedestrianisation issue took over and hijacked the original aim of the festivities." Mr Peake said he felt, and other people in Petersfield strongly agreed with him, "that the Petersfield Square, in its entirely, should be pedestrianised, and the sooner that is done, that will given some indication of how pedestrianisation would benefit that area alone – this does not include the High Street". Bob Ayer, chairman of Petersfield Tomorrow, said: "The resulting publicity regarding the successful Bank Holiday event in the town centre organised by Petersfield Tomorrow may have left people wondering how we relate to other groups that are working to increase the vitality of the town. "Petersfield Tomorrow is a volunteer community group that ensures that the views of people and businesses in Petersfield are heard and used to shape the future of our town over the coming years. "We are supported by the town, district and county councils and have several groups working together on projects that were supported strongly by the public during our initial consultations. There is a need for greater consultation with the retail and business community, and this has a high priority. "The Bank Holiday event had two major goals: to increase public awareness of Petersfield Tomorrow, especially its Town Design Statement (TDS) project, and to demonstrate the potential of The Square. "The TDS will make an important contribution to the way our town is developed in the future and the project is seeking support from people who know and care about the town. There is growing evidence that there is strong support for making better community use of The Square. "There are conflicting views on the importance and impact of pedestrianisation in the context of improving the town centre experience. "Petersfield Tomorrow has an open mind on pedestrianisation and is acutely aware of the need to obtain the views of both the public and the retail and business community before making any recommendations. "It is vital that we listen to, work with and support the established groups that have an interest in the town, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Petersfield Businesses and Petersfield Marketing Ltd. Mr Haines said one of the first things they would do if successful would be to convert PML into a community interest company, with a focus on putting things back into the town. "This company would not be commercial, it would be set up for the good of the town, and any assets would be put back into the town." He said it would be separate from Petersfield Tomorrow which was not intended to run events, but to look to the future and generate ideas. In addition to the community interest company, Mr Haines said there would be an advisory board with representatives of the town responsible for particular areas, including sport, the arts and business. "The next step is to talk to those who who have influence and see whether it is an idea worth pursuing," said Mr Haines. "Vernon (Peake), as an unpaid volunteer, has done a fantastic job and we would value as much of his time as we can give us." The aim of the group would be to market The Square in particular: "It is largely under-utilised and if we can make The Square 'sing and dance,' so to speak, the whole town will do so as well." Mr Haines believed there was room for other groups to work in Petersfield. "I think there is space for other groups to work as well, the more people doing things for the town as well, the better."
