A PLAN to create a new focal point for Bordon by linking the Forest shopping and community centres came under fire at its first public discussion. The Forest Centre Integration (FCI) project - intended to establish a town centre by creating a pedestrianised piazza between the centres - is the crown jewel in a raft of improvement measures proposed for Bordon. But the unveiling of the ambitious project, at the Forest Community Centre on Tuesday, was met with scepticism by some residents and town councillors, with one woman saying it could be "the biggest white elephant I've ever seen". Although backing for the plan has come from other quarters, including the Forest Traders Association. The idea was first proposed in 2004 by the Whitehill and Bordon Town Partnership - a group of local experts looking to enhance the area, in conjunction with the district council, both of which were represented at the presentation. The proposal is to close the stretch of Pinehill Road between the centres to traffic and effectively turn it into a town square, sporting a small amphitheatre outside the community centre as a performance space and youth shelter. There would also be landscape improvements made to the surroundings, and "revised access arrangements" in Pinehill Road and Heathcote Road, with bus-only access along Pinehill Road. The town partnership has secured £590,000 funding from town, district and county councils and the South East England Development Agency for four projects, but plans to plough £490,000 into the FCI - its flagship initiative. Town councillor Bill Wain, chairman of the town partnership, and East Hampshire District Council's external funding manager Neil Slatter said, at the unveiling, that the project was supported by a "core project team" of those most affected. These include the community centre, the Forest Traders Association and landowners. Derek Seale, a member of the partnership and chairman of the Forest Traders Association, told The Herald in July that the FCI project would have a positive effect on the town. He said at the time: "If we want to keep shoppers here, we have to provide them with an area they are happy to shop in because we're in competition with all other retailers in the region. "The Forest Centre is 24 years old and the new owners were intending to do some work on it anyway. It's possible they might contribute to the integration work." Mr Wain and Mr Slatter said they expected the plans to be finalised by next autumn, after taking account of feedback from community consultation next month. But building work would not take place until 2008/2009, and would form the first of three phases of development. Some listeners, however, seemed unconvinced and not all their questions about the purpose and maintenance of the FCI could be given definitive answers. When asked who would take ownership of the piazza and amphitheatre, Mr Slatter added: "How this goes forward is not clear. It's meant to be a partnership. Everyone has been involved and it's important that it stays that way." When pressed further about who would take responsibility for maintaining the new facility, Mr Slatter said: "As part of its design, the project will be very low maintenance, but that has to be discussed further." Andrew Stubberfield, treasurer of the Whitehill and Bordon Community Association, which runs the Forest Comunity Centre, warned that these issues had to be resolved before work started on the project. He said: "This will be a disaster if the funding is not sorted in advance. "These things always cost money, and if that is not sorted then it doesn't matter how good it is, people will turn off. This is more important in some ways than the final design." Town councillor Philip Drury agreed, saying he would not like to see Whitehill Town Council having to put up its demand on council tax to keep the project going. Mr Slatter stated his belief that "funding, design and sustainability must go forward together". Mr Wain said the amphitheatre was to attract young people, who could put on outdoor theatre or band performances. But Kevin Cawley, of Maple Leaf Drive, argued youngsters would be tempted to make a mess there, while Martin Dobson pointed out that members of the King's Church, which uses the centre, had received complaints just for noiselessly pitching tents outside the centre before. There was general concern about the loss of parking outside the community centre due to the amphitheatre. Mr Wain admitted that the district council- owned open space next to the centre had been earmarked for more parking but was no longer available. He also accepted that a back-up plan to squeeze extra spaces, particularly disabled spaces, into gaps in the existing car park might leave disabled drivers some distance from the doors, without enough room to manoeuvre. Mr Cawley also argued that the proposed location was not suitable for a social hub, saying: "This area is not the middle of Bordon, just spare land, so this whole set up is being put in the wrong place. You are restricted in this area unless you either bulldoze all the surrounding houses or move up to the High Street because lots of big shops will not come down here." Helen Blake, a volunteer at the community centre, warned the town partnership to make sure this was what residents wanted before spending so much money. She said: "There is apathy in Bordon. People will say anything to encourage projects but then not actually support them. "Half a million pounds to pedestrianise a road and put up an amphitheatre? That looks like the biggest white elephant I have ever seen." Mr Wain and Mr Slatter urged residents who wanted to make comments to attend a discussion of the project at the town partnership's next meeting on Thursday, October 26, or to attend the public consultation days at the Forest Community Centre on November 24 and 25.
