FORMER chairman of the East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry has hit out at claims that the beleaguered ÒPetersfield FirstÓ is the tradersÕ only voice in the town.

This week Michael Dalton, the immediate past chairman of the EHCCI, told The Herald: ÒIt is commonly accepted that the Chamber of Commerce movement in this country is the voice of business both national and local.Ó

He said: ÒThe Chamber of Commerce lobbies central and local government for a better business environment and is better placed to influence government perhaps than the smaller, more localised organisations such as Petersfield First.Ó

Mr DaltonÕs comments came after news that the Petersfield First group looked set to fold because new committee members had not come forward to run the group.

The groupÕs chairman Trevor Boyden warned that Petersfield First would be wound up if members did not come forward for the committee. ÒWe are of course deeply concerned at the possible demise of the only business organisation left which can represent the business and trading interests in Petersfield.Ó

But Mr Dalton claimed that the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry through the East Hampshire Chamber represented around 140 businesses in the East Hampshire area. He said chamber members were responsible for employing about 65 per cent of the employed population of the area.

ÒFurther, the Chamber of Commerce benefits from a consistent and sustained growth in membership on a monthly basis as opposed to the dwindling memberships referred to in your (The HeraldÕs) report.Ó

This week Mr Boyden retorted: ÒPetersfield First is a Chamber of Commerce for Petersfield. It is the amalgamation of the townÕs chamber of trade and the retail and business association and perhaps if Mr Dalton had been in the town long enough, he would realise that.Ó

He added: ÒMichael Dalton is the immediate past chairman of the East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry and he is talking with a vested interest.Ó

Mr Boyden said he agreed that the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Chamber did a Òmarvellous job for Portsmouth and we want one to do the same for Petersfield not PortsmouthÓ.

ÒThe EHCCI tackles the whole of the district rather than a particular area that has its own problems. Petersfield First tackles issues in the town itself such as the arrival of Tesco, proposed road improvements and parking.

ÒWe make financial contributions to the Christmas lights and Petersfield in Bloom and are concerning ourselves with the future of the Christmas lights , which is in considerable doubt at present.Ó

Mr Boyden said he had attended EHCCI meetings: ÒIt is more for networking to generate extra income between members - a marketing tool for your business. That is another reason why a lot of us from Petersfield First wonÕt join, we are interested in protecting our businesses in the town.Ó

Mr Boyden added: ÒEHCCI is funded by East Hampshire District Council so how can it be independent? On the other hand, we are self-financing and we fight issues from a completely independent point of view.Ó