MORE than half-a-million pounds is to be spent on the rejuvenation of Bordon's town centre. The Forest Centre Integration Project, which will cost an estimated £564,000 to complete, was approved by Hampshire County Council at a meeting on Tuesday, June 26. The project, will provide pedestrians with safe access between the community centre and the shopping centre, and will include an arena for local events. It will also create new vehicle access from Pinehill Road to the Somerfield store car park. County councillor Adam Carew said: "This is fantastic news for our town. "We are the second biggest town in East Hants and we deserve to have this money spent on us. "It will make the centre a more attractive focal point for our town and better integrate the Forest Community Centre with the shopping centre. "It will then provide space for commercial and community activities. "It has been a real community effort involving local councillors, officers and a range of community groups. "It's very satisfying to see it finally get the green light." The project is a partnership between Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council and Whitehill Town Council, with a grant from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). The project was dependent on the county council's approval, as the grant from SEEDA must be matched by county council funding. Jo Jordan, chairman of Whitehill and Bordon Community Association, told The Herald: "This project has been a long and and hard fight. There has been a lot of hard work and effort on behalf of the town partnership, to integrate the shopping centre and Forest Community Centre, and we are really pleased that it is definitely going ahead. "The community centre is looking forward to offering a wider diversity of events to the people of Whitehill and Bordon." Bill Wain, the chairman of the Whitehill and Bordon Town Partnership Group, told The Herald: "The announcement is wonderful news. The project will allow pedestrians safe access to shopping, while the open air theatre will bring an array of visitors to the town centre." Making a short section of Pinehill Road solely for buses, cycles and emergency vehicles, is believed to be essential for the scheme's succcess. The partial closure of the road will require some re- routing of traffic, but will provide space for markets and community activities. Mr Carew said: "Although 60 per cent of people approve of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), I have asked that the TRO element be reviewed in six to nine months time. "If people are not happy with it we will review it again." There was extensive public consultation involving an exhibition, questionnaires, and media coverage regarding the project. The plans were also displayed on the council website, with links from EHDC and HCC sites. The scheme was one of the seven key objectives from the town partnership and has been largely driven by the 'Business Breakthrough Group'. The scheme has the full support of Whitehill Town Council; East Hants District Council; Hampshire County Council; the Town Partnership; the Forest Centre owner, Anglo Lothian and the business community. The integration project has attracted a high level of community involvement. Councillors; the town partnership, Forest Centre traders, local community groups and officers from three levels of local government, have all been involved, with the final design amended in line with local feedback. Mr Carew added: "We have had a lot of talk about the future of our town. People need to see proof that Whitehill and Bordon is changing for the better and that the council is prepared to put its money where its mouth is. "This perhaps the first example. Now this project is agreed we need to press on." For further information, please contact Gerry Thorne, town improvement manager for Whitehill and Bordon, East Hants District Council, Penns Place, Petersfield or call 01730 234136.
