THE return of the railway to Bordon is one of a number of suggestions made by members of a local focus group looking to improve transport links in the town. Peter Gauld, co-ordinator of the Whitehill and Bordon Town Partnership Transport Group, said the reinstatement of a railway track along the path of the old military line to Bentley could be the solution to commuters' woes. New and re-routed bus services and extensions to cycle lanes were also mooted at the last meeting of the group, part of the Town Partnership set up by Whitehill Town Council to identify improvements in the town. Mr Gauld raised the question of a rail link being re-established on the understanding that some of the trackwork is still in place, despite trains not having made the journey since the 1950s. He reasoned this would encourage new businesses to locate here and relieve the density on the A325. However, he added that although it would take a long time to implement, such a scheme was becoming more of a necessity for commuters who drive to Bentley to make onward train journeys. He said; "The committe in general considers this quite necessary for the furtherance of Bordon as an important part of the district. "So many people use cars to get to the rail link at Bentley, or Haslemere for the fast service. "The A325 is overloaded and I believe part of the link which used to be between Bordon and Bentley still exists and could be resuscitated. "The track to Bentley is sure to be well and truly overgrown, but still essentially intact. "We understand that this is a dream at the moment and it would not happen for some years, but if we do not press this issue forward then nothing will happen at all. Mr Gauld said the idea had first been raised at a meeting when the Town Partnership was established, and said that certain members of the town council supported calls for a re- established railway. He added; "Nothing has been instituted yet, the discussion at the meeting was the first real initiative to start it off. "There would have to be lots of consultations with train companies to see if they would be interested in running a service on this line, as well as much new engineering work. "But we believe that lots of people would like to see this done." There were also calls at the meeting for a major shakeup of bus services in the form of a service running between Farnham and Petersfield, through Bordon. A large number of people travelling on public transport from Bordon to Petersfield will first take a bus to Liphook and make the rest of the journey by train. But it was highlighted by the group that Whitehill and Bordon has a larger population than Liphook and a direct service running through Bordon would be more appropriate. It was argued that service 38, which used to run between Aldershot and Portsmouth, but now stops its northbound journey at Liss, could be extended to turn around at Greatham, as compensation for the loss of the direct service. Members of the group said they were keen to see a late night bus service established, which could take young people to and from Guildford. Again, the usual route for late-night revellers is to take a train from Liphook. However, bus operators AMK and Richardson Travel have said they are not keen to extend their services to Whitehill and Bordon. Bus services through Bordon continue to be under threat as a result of Hampshire County Council's decision to cut funding for services which it deems as not being economically viable. Earlier this year, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) had to commit funds until the end of the financial year to keep the experimental 73 service connecting Bordon and Petersfield alive. The Bordon Partnership Town Transport Group fired a broadside at the county council policy, saying the subsidy ceiling of £2.50 per person was "unrealistic" and needed to be reviewed. Gwil Williams, the transport officer for EHDC, said that schools in Bordon, in particular Mill Chase Technology College and neighbouring Weyford School, have said they want to increase the use of bicycles as a means of student travel to and from school in their recently submitted travel plans. He said the district council was disappointed there were not more cycling initiatives in the area. He added that under the county council's Local Transport Plan, the bulk of funds earmarked for promoting cycling would go towards schemes in more urban areas such as Basingstoke.
