AN application to develop Bordon's neglected High Street has been turned down by the district council much to the annoyance of local residents, The Herald can exclusively reveal. The decision came as a surprise to some who viewed the opportunity essential in any bid to improve the appearance of the site during the short-term. Applicant John Brice fom the Orca Group which bought up the run down units, discovered that East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) had rejected the proposal on the grounds that access to the site wasn't sufficient. But planning officers were given powers to delegate the decision without referral to councillors on the planning committee. Mr Brice told The Herald: "The district council has used its delegated powers and kicked this planning application into touch, and I am very surprised it did not go back to committee stage. "It doesn't make any sense to me, Bordon needs essential regeneration and the High Street is the ideal focal point for it." The Orca Group's application didn't require a change in the nature of planning permission because work would have been carried out on the outside of the three outlets. The structure inside would have remained the same. Mr Brice added: "The outlets would have been more suitable and ready to use for any potential investors should any interest have come along. "We are not talking comprehensive development but work which says 'let's have something on the go in the meantime'." Mr Brice previously submitted an application to EHDC three years ago to change the site into an arcade of shops but that was also refused on similar grounds. Whitehill town councillors gave the thumbs up to the proposal in April to improve Bordon High Street at a planning and amenities meeting. Their comments were then passed onto EHDC to aid in their decision-making process. The proposal would have seen the refurbishment and repair to the frontage of existing premises at 2-5 High Street. It would also have seen a car parking area for 14 cars and work carried out on pothole-ridden Lynton Road running parallel to the A325. The proposal was in line with the town's Green Town Vision blueprint aimed at making the town more attractive as well as providing opportunities for additional investment and retail choice for residents. Keith Oliver, the EHDC planning officer in charge of the application, said: "The application was refused on the grounds of highways. The applicant doesn't own the road behind the High Street." He added: "The principle of the proposal is fine and we support the idea of regeneration along that stretch in Bordon. But the vehicular access isn't sufficient and the road is in a poor state of affairs. This aspect needs to be addressed before further applications are submitted." Work on Lynton Road would have lead to eventual access coming from its southern end with the removal of the bollards and their relocation to the northern part of the road to prevent a way through and a [rat run." It was deemed that this would also reduce the amount of traffic entering and leaving from the Chalet Hill junction while allowing safer and easier access onto Lynton Road. Ian Dowdle, district councillor for Whitehill Pinewood said: "It is disappointing that no further progess has been made on the High Street. "It is key to further improvement in the area and will be key to the forthcoming Whitehill Opportunity, when the Army's Royal Electrial and Mechanical Engineers unit begin to pull out of the town in five years' time. Mr Dowdle who owns Robin Cycles on the High Street added: "Efforts need to be made to resolve this and take it forward." The town is still waiting to hear back from Atisreal, the consultancy firm looking at the best possible way to develop the whole High Street comprehensively. The original report date was due at the end of April but has been delayed, and it is not yet known when any results will be revealed. This report will be essential in providing an insight into the future infrastructure of the town in preparation for the MoD pull-out in 2012/3 and the subsequent construction of 4-5,500 new homes on brownfield sites.
