A WHITEHILL town councillor has spoken of his vision of Bordon's future if a proposed railway link goes ahead. Philip Drury, of Whitehill's Hogmoor ward, said there was a "sound argument" behind calls for a restored rail link, by the Whitehill and Bordon Transport Group (WBTG), which is preparing a feasability study. But the councillor wants the original Bentley- to-Bordon route to be extended down to Liss, making Bordon the link between two main commuter lines - the Alton-to-Waterloo and Portsmouth-to-Waterloo lines. Mr Drury said he had been in contact with regional rail franchise operator South West Trains, which had "demonstrated that they would be the natural service provider, but have also stated that the line may need a subsidy to start with". He believes this financial backing may not be necessary if the railway becomes a "through route" linking the Waterloo lines, as this would "inevitably link up hundreds of thousands of people throughout Hampshire". Mr Drury argued that all villages and towns in a 30-mile radius with a rail connection - namely Liss, Liphook, Haslemere, Alton, Petersfield and Hook - were "prosperous and healthy" but Whitehill and Bordon was the "exception". A restored and extended rail link would, he argued, encourage more businesses and employment into the town, while easing road congestion, and should form part of any proposals for a new town centre. It might also encourage tourism in the town, which could be linked to the Watercress Line steam railway and could act as a gateway to the proposed South Downs National Park. He claimed it was "needed now more than ever", but warned that care should be taken to keep it in line with the Green Vision environment scheme for the town by using modern silent-train and fossil-fuel saving technology. Mr Drury said: "The resurrection of the rail link will do much more than just provide a passenger service to locals. It will effectively link up Alton to Whitehill and Bordon, Liss and right down to Portsmouth. This will open up so much business potential. "Restoring the rail link combined with a sustainable Green Vision in eco-housing development, centred around eco-transport systems, will signify the town's importance in national environment policy. It may mean that Bordon and Whitehill leads the way by example and becomes the environmental showpiece of the country. "It would also offer the town, its people and businesses greater opportunity to access real markets and real jobs so that sustainable prosperity comes to, and remains in, Whitehill and Bordon. "We are a relatively large town which is set to expand and squeeze the A325 and all other major transport corridors to such an extent that the town, its future services and outlying parishes will become more inaccessible to locals and visitors, and business will not be able to function."
