NINETY per cent of residents who took part in a public consultation on the Forest Centre Integ-ration (FCI) project, want the area improved. The results of the public questionnaire, issued by the district council and the Whitehill and Bordon Town Partnership, also showed that most respondents supported each feature in the new-look layout. However, town councillors voiced concerns over aspects of the plan at a meeting this week, and the Mayor of Bordon, Don Mayes, labelled it a "cosmetic operation". A report will be submitted to East Hampshire District Council's (EHDC) community forum meeting next week, claiming overwhelming support for the scheme, in particular the additional parking, seating, lighting and vegetation it offers. Whitehill Town Council unanimously agreed on Monday to back the scheme in principle, although councillors appeared to be unhappy with several aspects, including closing part of Pinehill Road to traffic. Project leaders have warned that if the scheme does not go ahead, the money will be forfeited, not redirected, leading to a "loss of confidence" and a "spiral of community and economic decline" in a "poor environment". The most popular element among the 90 respondents was the introduction of 12 illuminated seating areas around the Forest shopping and community centres and St Mark's Church - which 84 per cent backed and only four per cent disagreed with. Other well-supported features were additional planting (79 per cent in favour), a footpath linking the two centres (78 per cent in favour) and 14 extra parking spaces outside the community centre (78 per cent in favour). The feature which seemed to polarise opinion most was the amphitheatre, which would consist of an open performance area and a stage which could double as a youth shelter. The performance area was supported by 70 per cent of respondents, leaving one third indifferent or opposed. The shelter proved less desirable, with 60 per cent in favour, 20 per cent neutral and 20 per cent against. When Whitehill Town Council was asked for its comments on Monday, councillor Philip Drury raised the issue of management. District council business-development manager Mike Gibbs said: "We will have to come to an agreement for someone to be responsible. "There are various freehold and leasehold land interests affected by this scheme. We will be holding talks and visiting these parties at the appropriate time, but there will be water under the bridge before then." Councillor Faith Thomas criticised the lack of pedestrian access to the site from Heathcote Road, across the Somerfield car park. She said: "It's quite dangerous walking across the car park. I have had cars come at me, because they think they can go wherever they like, and those on foot will just have to move out of the way. "If we are going to make the area people- friendly, then we should have something there for pedestrians." This was accepted as a valid point, and it was suggested that if the car park could be moved away from Somerfield, there was a possibility of creating a footpath along the side of the supermarket. Chris Wain said it was "rather a shame" that the "so-called pedestrian freeway" between the centres would remain open to buses, taxis and emergency vehicles, rather than becoming completely closed to traffic. Mr Gibbs replied: "There are residences and pockets of population at the south end of Pinehill Road, so the issues of safety and access for emergency vehicles would be a big problem. Total closure was looked at, but discounted." However, he suggested that a temporary road- closure order, similar to that used to close off part of Alton High Street on market days, could be sought for specific events. Asked by councillor Adam Carew how the pedestrianised section of road would be policed, a spokesman for the district council said most of the 1,500 vehicles which enter Pinehill Road each day turn into one of the car parks. Therefore, he explained, "no entry" signage at both ends of the pedestrianised section would be "adhered to by most law-abiding drivers". He admitted there was the potential to install CCTV cameras, but revealed the district council had no department to monitor the tapes. This service would have to be seperately negotiated with the county council. Councillor Jaci Eastwood was worried that people moving through the new seating areas, particularly the elderly and disabled, might be at risk from groups of youngsters rushing through on bikes. She was told that, because of the district council's policy on encouraging modes of sustainable transport, it was unlikely there would be any restrictions placed on the use of bicycles. Mr Mayes launched a broadside at the scheme, calling it a "cosmetic operation" and a "redeployment of space". In particular, he highlighted that the positioning of the amphitheatre in front of the community centre, meant parking spaces would be lost and disabled parking bays would be further away from the entrance. In response, Mr Gibbs argued that between the community centre and supermarket car parks there would be a net gain of seven spaces, while the "under-utilised" Lidl car park would be used more efficiently. Mr Mayes and David Williamson asked why district council-owned open land next to the community centre - originally earmarked for additional parking - had been withdrawn from the plans, but received no answer. The mayor also criticised the timing of the project for being "pre-emptive before the decision of the Ministry of Defence (on the future of the Army in Bordon), which might change the whole situation". But town partnership chairman Bill Wain said: "The whole ethos of this project was to get something happening now, independently of the MoD decision, which will not have any impact on the town for 10 years." He was backed by Mr Carew, who said: "Despite the MoD decision, the Forest centres will remain, so improvements to them are a good thing. There are controversial elements to the project, but it should be taken on board." A report on the progress of the FCI scheme will be presented at the public community forum at the Forest Community Centre on Tuesday, January 16, at 6-30 pm.
