ANXIETY over what might happen to Bordon and White-hill when the Army moves out in 2012 surfaced at a public meeting on local issues. Unprepared organisers were left reeling when residents voiced criticisms and fears over the future of their community - currently the focus of plans to give it a sustainable future and shortlisted to become one of the government's new eco-towns. Hopes that new houses would be limited to 2,000; disappointment over the perceived inadequacy of public consultation and suspicions that planners have already accepted that the town must grow, perhaps without extra infrastructure, were keenly felt. Scepticism over eco-town status, that would require up to 5,500 new homes; nervousness about the possible development of Hampshire County Council-owned farmland near Standford and calls for a town referendum also went into the melting pot to produce an emotional couple of hours. The meeting - called by local Conservatives and attended by about 30 members of the public - was held last Thursday at the Forest Community Centre in Bordon. It had been intended as an opportunity for residents to meet their MP, James Arbuthnot; East Hampshire district councillor for Whitehill Pinewood, Ian Dowdle; the prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate, Damien Hinds and the deputy leader of East Hampshire District Council, David Parkinson, to discuss anti-social behaviour in the town; post-office closures, so-called polyclinics, eco-towns and other issues raised by the audience. However, within minutes of the meeting starting, it became clear that most of those present had just one issue on their minds. "We don't want the town to grow," said one resident. "A lot of people have very strong reservations about this," said another, while a third asked: "Is there something going on and we're not being told about it?" Mr Hinds acknowledged "the clear frustration" of people present, while Mr Arbuthnot attempted a measured analysis. The MP said: "I had the impression two years ago that most were saying: 'Let's see what we can get out of this loss of the Army and make it a more rounded town with better opportunities.' "If you limit the ambitions, you could limit the opportunities. We've got to make sure that whatever happens in Bordon improves it." But from the floor came calls such as "The price is too high," and "I am highly suspicious". "Five and a half thousand houses and a by-pass would ruin Bordon," said another member of the audience, who went on: "It's a shanty town with issues and problems, but we've grown up with it." Hollywater resident Claire Rowe attended the meeting. Afterwards, she said she was disillusioned and feared for local meadowlands, woods and habitats. She was also concerned about the much- needed infrastructure if the district council pushed for the considerable development needed for an eco-town. She added: "There is no guarantee we will get the promised infrastructure and facilities we need. All previous promises have been broken. Where is the hotel, the maternity hospital, the adequately sized primary school we were promised last time? We got all the houses and none of the amenities. Why should we believe things will be different this time? We could just become a bigger housing dumping ground and lose more of our beautiful countryside in the process." Marilyn Metcalfe, a Standford resident for 35 years, said: "I don't think letting it sprawl is the answer. Everyone I've spoken to says they want it to stay as it is. I don't think Bordon is short of facilities - it's a wonderful area." Mr Dowdle said that previous consultation processes had produced a good degree of support for real change and he expressed surprise at the way the meeting went. He said: "I was a bit angry afterwards. It's the first public meeting I've been to where people came with their minds made up, asking questions but not prepared to listen to the answers. "There were a lot of people from Standford and they have their own residents' group which is against any building. I can understand why they are concerned because they live there but no decisions have been made because the process hasn't got to that point and they will have a say in what happens to the land. "I am happy to meet them and talk it through, explain where we are and give them some reassurance, but there are possibilities for that land, which would enhance life for people in the area. "There is an element of people who don't want any change but I'm afraid that change is going to happen. "Some would like to minimise the change by limiting the number of houses, but in all consultations in the town, people say they want more facilities and the only way is with a reasonable house build." "We have to bite the bullet and get a properly planned town with the infrastructure to go with it."
