CALLS to resurrect the Longmoor train line have intensified in the light of the Whitehill and Bordon opportunity. Whitehill and Bordon is in desperate need of revised transport links, if it is to cope with the increase in homes in the coming years, said councillors at the Development Policy Planning meeting last Wednesday. District councillor for Whitehill (Hogmoor) Phil Drury said: "The public transport in Bordon is dismal, and that will only be compounded by any increases in the population. "When the Army leaves the town, there could potentially be 5,550 new homes built which will double the population. "On average each home has 1.5 cars, so without re- establishing the train line the town will face huge problems both in terms pollution and congestion. "I believe that reintroducing the train line is the right thing to do." The Longmoor railway line was built in 1903 to train soldiers on railway construction and to transport 70 corrugated iron huts from Longmoor to Bordon. The Ministry of Defence made the decision to close the line in 1969, though for at least two years locomotives and stock remained on the site and the line was used occasionally. Mr Drury added: "It was silly to close the train line completely, instead of converting it into a civilian railway. The tracks that connected Kingsley and Bentley are still in place, and so they could be connected again. "Many local businesses believe that potential trade is taken away from the town as a result of the poor transport links. "The re-establishment of the line could change this perception. "It is a long term project and will take a long fight, but I think it'll be worth it." Ian Dowdle, chairman of the Whitehill and Bordon breakthrough group said: "Businesses consider a whole host of factors before entering a town to trade in and transport links are high on their list of priorities. "We need to do something to improve these links for Whitehill and Bordon. "There is a possibility that the A325 could be expanded into a dual carriage way. "However, this is unlikely to solve the problems we face, as the increased traffic would be slowed at Farnham, which would in turn, slow the traffic here. "The interim period of major roadworks would cause misery for road users, and even once it is completed, it would have consequences for the environment." East Hampshire District Planning Policy officers are now considering the feasibility of including the Longmoor line in the Whitehill and Bordon Opportunity.
