SUPPORTERS and opponents of the proposed Tesco store on the former Bordon Motors site have been urged to make their views known, as the long awaited public inquiry draws near.

Bordon's MP James Arbuthnot met with Whitehill town councillors last Friday to make sure that all of the 'i's are dotted and the 't's crossed, with the inquiry due to get under way in 18 days' time.

He said: "The meeting was just a last exchange to make sure that we were ready."

The hearing, which starts on May 15, will be the second public inquiry into a Tesco planning application for the site off the A325.

In July 1999 Bordon was left in a state of shock at the news that the Planning Inspectorate had thrown out the application after a four-day hearing because it conflicted with the local plan.

The site since occupied by Lidl was the inspector's preferred site for the store.

Last year Tesco submitted an application for a slightly larger store on the Bordon Motors site, which was widely supported and granted planning permission.

But in December it was "called-in" by the Government Office for the South East to enable a public inquiry to be held.

Mr Arbuthnot said that both he and the town councillors feared that there was a certain apathy about the impending inquiry, despite general supportive public opinion.

"We all felt that there was a real risk that local people are not writing in their views about the Tesco application in the same numbers as they did about the last application," he said.

"We think that some people feel that because they wrote in last time, they do not need to write in again.

"I think that they do need to write in again, whether they are for or against it."

Mr Arbuthnot told The Herald that the outcome of the inquiry will prove to be a pivotal moment in the future development of Bordon and that all residents should ensure that they have a say.

"This is a very important development time for Bordon - if it goes ahead or if it is rejected."

Mr Arbuthnot said he still intends to be at the inquiry and at a public meeting which is being organised locally.

Lee White, of the Tesco Action Group, told The Herald that the group is hosting a public meeting at the Forest Community Centre on May 3 to explain to local residents why the inquiry is taking place.

She said it would give residents the chance to collect as much information about the application as possible if they intended to write to the Planning Inspectorate, attend the inquiry or speak at it.

She said: "I have asked to speak at the public inquiry and I am going to put forward what I am going to say, and to find out if there is anything that anyone wants to add, or if there are any discussion points that anyone wants to bring up."

The action group is supporting the calls by Mr Arbuthnot and Whitehill Town Council to write to the Planning Inspectorate.

It has placed sample letters at the Pinehill doctors' surgery for residents to use as a guide for their own letters.

Town and district councillor Zoya Faddy, who was one of the councillors who met Mr Arbuthnot last week, told The Herald that the town council is ready for the inquiry.

She welcomed the news that Mr Arbuthnot is urging people to write to the Planning Inspectorate.

"This is a brand new application - the slate has been wiped clean and this is a brand new ball game all together.

"People should write in their views, whatever they are."

Mrs Faddy said she felt it will be Tesco's "last ditch attempt" to build a supermarket in the town.

"I really feel that this really is the last chance saloon.

"We need this land developed for local amenities, but there is a danger that if this isn't approved then the site will be lost to housing. That is my worst fear."

Anyone wishing to make their views known should write to the Planning Inspectorate, quoting planning application number F20074/032, at 3-17 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.