IT is not just many residents, potential house buyers and local businesses that are hoping to benefit from the on-going redevelopment in Bordon.

Churches are also busy making plans for the future of the town and for the gradual arrival of new residents and new opportunities in the community.

At the centre of the church’s plans is Blackmoor and Whitehill vicar the Reverend Dominic Clarke.

Mr Clarke said: “The truth is that while the developers can build new homes, shops and other facilities, it is often up to churches and similar socially orientated organisations to build the actual community.

“As the exciting Whitehill and Bordon regeneration project continues apace, the Church of England is committed to making sure that the new town truly works. We want to be the glue that holds everything together.”

To that end, the bishops of Guildford and Portsmouth, the Rt Revs Andrew Watson and Christopher Foster, have announced that Mr Clarke had been asked to lead on the church’s engagement with the new development.

Mr Clarke will head a small leadership team which will include the Rev Wes Sutton from the Acorn Christian Healing centre in Whitehill.

The eventual aim is the creation of “a brand new worshipping community” on what is now the Prince Philip Barracks site.

“This is an exciting and fast-moving project,” Mr Clarke added.

“We don’t know exactly what our new church will look like yet and really want to spend some time now praying and discussing what we think the real needs are now, and what they will be in the future.

A small group of Christians have already started to meet to do exactly this and we hope we will be able to make a positive contribution to the new development.”

Mr Clarke is keen to hear from any Christians who think that they would like to be involved in some way in the new church plan.

He can be contacted on 01420 473548 or [email protected].