AFTER 31 years the Alton Society still believes it has an important role to play and, with Òthe threat of unwelcome developmentÓ looming over the town, it is preparing do just that.

In a bracing address to last weekÕs agm, chairman Geoff Nicholas, said there had been two major issues dominating the past 12 months - the Local Plan Second Review and the South Downs National Park, Òboth of which are capable of impacting adversely on Alton and its surroundingsÓ.

While convinced that the National Park would happen in the foreseeable future, the threat of over-development would, he warned, Òremain so long as we are surrounded by green fieldsÓ.

Due to be published early in the new year, the Local Plan will go out to public consultation for six weeks and Mr Nicholas urged members to respond positively, leaving councillors and officers in no doubt as to the views and concerns of local people.

While accepting that some development was inevitable, and reassured that East Hampshire District Council was currently standing firm on its present development policy boundary, the threat from large developers breaking through that boundary was nonetheless Òvery realÓ.

ÒWe must strive to match their considerable resources with our own expertise and local knowledge,Ó he said.

In paying tribute to the work of committee members over the past year, Mr Nicholas expressed thanks also for the support and co-operation of the East Hants branch of the CPRE and the Countryside Agency.

He drew attention also to the Alton Society newsletter which is widely circulated and can be seen in such public places as the library and Alton Community Centre.

ÒOur constitution requires us to Ôact as a focus for obtaining and giving relevant information and advice and to provide a forum for public discussionÕ and I firmly believe we achieve this through the newsletter.Ó Mr Nicholas also sought to highlight the Òvaluable serviceÓ provided to the town by tree warden Jim Dickinson, and to the contribution made by such as the Conservation Area Partnership Scheme (CAPS), the EHDC standards for shop frontage, and the Alton in Bloom project, all of which had worked to enhance the town environment. But they had been let down by the litter blight.

ÒThe litter problem is a menace and we must continue to lobby district councillors to ensure that sufficient funding is budgeted for in dealing with this issue,Ó stressed Mr Nicholas.

The Alton Society had also campaigned against increases in car park tariffs with a measure of success and the chairman urged members to continue the fight for a fair share of the resulting Òlarge annual surplusÓ to be ploughed back into maintaining AltonÕs car parks to a high standard.

ÒSimilarly, we must continue to press Hampshire County Council for improved road and pavement maintenance,Ó he said.

Perhaps with this in mind, Mr Nicholas expressed thanks to councillors at town, district and county level for their efforts over the year in supporting the Alton Society in its role as local watchdog and in its bid to improve Alton and its environment.

The fact that the need for the society was as great now as it had been in 1970 indicated, said Mr Nicholas, that Òthis small town of ours is far from moribund and remains quietly vibrantÓ.

r Elections at the meeting returned Geoff Nicholas to the chair, Kimberley Muir as treasurer and Elizabeth Esdaile as minute secretary. Committee members were returned en bloc and will include: Tom Arnott, John Bethell, Linda Bethell, Nick Carey-Thomas and Mike Heelis.

Karen Hudson was voted in as a new addition to the committee.