THE Whitehill and Bordon Opportunity is gathering pace, and has attracted the support of the leader of the district council and local planners, said a councillor this week. The potential increase in homes and facilities as a result of the Army leaving the town, known as the Whitehill and Bordon Opportunity, is becoming a priority for local people and councillors. District councillor and member of the Whitehill Bordon Opportunity steering group, Ian Dowdle, said: "The Whitehill and Bordon opportunity has definitely been put high on the agenda. Both the head of the planning committee, Daryl Phillips, and the leader of the district council, Ferris Cowper, have begun to discuss the opportunity, and support for the project is gathering pace. "People think that Whitehill and Bordon is easily forgotten, but the signs I have seen are very promising. "The Whitehill/Bordon Opportunity steering group has been working hard to collate a lot of information about the town, and this information is now being looked at by councillors. "It is very encouraging to see that the district council has researched the matter and the information it has is being collated and worked on." The issue of the increase in cars in Bordon and the surrounding villages, as a result of the new homes, is remaining controversial. Calls for the Bordon railway line to be reinstated have been made by councillors, but it is thought that planners are considering turning the A325 through Bordon into a dual carriageway. "It seems odd that the council can employ engineers to dual the A325, but are reluctant to say that they could develop a single--rail train line that joins the local villages," said Mr Dowdle. "There are a lot of issues with housing and the infrastructure of the town, but these issues are now being looked at. It's definitely a good thing." A wider consultation regarding these issues will take place in October, and it is hoped that the strong relationship between residents and the council can continue. The annual general meeting of the Town Partnership will be held on Monday, October 22, at the Forest Community Centre in Bordon, at 7pm. All members of the public are welcome.
