Meeting places are at the top of the agenda of BordonÕs needs according to teenagers who have been helping East Hampshire District Council examine what facilities are vital to the future development of the town.
On Tuesday, the north east area community committee received a report which summarised the views expressed by young people through a series of workshops.
Teenagers who attended the meeting also told councillors that BordonÕs facilities were aimed at older people and that young people have got nowhere to go.
The report revealed that the vast majority of teenagers would like an entertainment complex in the town which could include a cinema, bowling alley, arcade or a music centre.
Of these, a cinema was the most in demand with young people pointing out that they were not asking for a large multiplex cinema but a smaller cinema to meet local needs.
The long-awaited skate park was also high on the list of priorities, as well as increased sporting facilities.
Better shops for young people are also important, the report revealed, with clothes shops New Look, Pony Express and Top Shop high on the agenda, along with HMV and shoe shops.
Fast-food outlets McDonaldÕs and KFC were in the most demand with young sters pointing out that they are welcoming to young people, will provide a meeting place and will employ young people.
Committee chairman Richard Hope (Bramshott and Liphook) said that the most important message which was coming through was that the townÕs young people had money to spend and did not want to travel to neighbouring towns and cities to spend it.
ÒFrom what we have been told, there are young people in Bordon and villages such as Liphook who have got money to spend and would like local facilities but do not necessarily want to have to travel all the way to Guildford or Portsmouth looking for things to do,Ó he said.
Grayshott businessman Phil Bates pointed out that if high street stores thought that they could successfully sell their products in Bordon the Òthey would be here alreadyÓ.
However, Mr Hope said that it was up to local people and councils to work together and show businesses that there are potential consumers in Bordon.
ÒWe must not assume that they have done their homework. A lot of these stores require there to be a town centre and, thanks to the new local plan, Bordon will soon have a town centre.Ó
Economic development officer Mike Gibbs told the meeting that the land south of the Jet garage on the A325 was being marketed by the district council for leisure use.
But Zoya Faddy (Whitehill) said that she believed that the turning point for Bordon was Tesco and that since it was granted planning permission to build a store in the town, other stores were beginning to take an interest.
ÒWe hope that Tesco will act as a catalyst because we want proper shops here,Ó she said.
Mrs Faddy said that once EHDC had agreed a development brief for the regeneration of the High Street and Chalet Hill, even more interest would be shown.
ÒIt makes sense to agree a development brief and bring the area into the 21st century.Ó
Ferris Cowper (Grayshott) shared the same sentiments and said that the district and town councils needed to work together with large organisations actively to market Bordon and Whitehill to big businesses.
He said: ÒIt seems to me that if we want to bring these things to this area then we have got to think on a much bigger scale than we have ever done before.
ÒThere are large organisations around to bring about the changes that we have described.
ÒEast Hampshire District Council and Whitehill Town Council have not got the resources but have got the local knowledge, and the large organisations have the resources but not the local knowledge.
ÒWe need to work together on this and we have got to take the lead.
ÒIf we donÕt really think big then on this then none of this will be done and we will be back here in five years time asking why nothing has been done.Ó
Councillors were enthusiastic about trying to put together plans for the future but Sam James (Bramshott and Liphook) warned against being too over-optimistic.
ÒWe have got to be as realistic as possible. There is no point in raising expectations unless we feel that we can achieve them.
ÒLetÕs be realistic but keep optimistic.Ó
Comments expressed at TuesdayÕs meeting will be examined by EHDCÕs economic development panel which will be discussing the regeneration of Bordon and Whitehill, and putting together a development brief, later in the year.