What Price An Eco Town!
I have lived in Bordon since 1970 and have seen quite a few changes, but not many for the better. The planning has done nothing to give it any character. The last time we had a 'housing explosion' trees were chopped down in all directions, and houses were thrown up everywhere. You hardly dared to go out in case someone built a house in your garden while you were gone! One wondered where it was all going to stop.
No one considered the roads. We were promised lots of things if we had more houses, but very little materialised. The Forest Centre was built, as someone decided that was the centre of Bordon, but no room was left for it to be extended. We have very few shops there. No one thought about how all the big lorries were going to get in or out. We are lucky to have Tesco and now Wilkinsons, but not much else. We couldn't have a Sports Centre, it had to be incorporated into Mill Chase School.
Now, wonder of wonders, the 'powers that be' want to foist an Eco Town on us. They tell us that if we have 5,000 or so more houses, we will get the facilities we need. Do they think we came up the river on the last lily? Does Eco mean the houses will be built out of egg boxes and cardboard cartons? Living in Bordon without a car you cannot get anywhere. Do they think people are going to give up their cars? I don't think so. Some won't even walk their children to school, even though it would do them and the children good. They are all busy people.
Speaking for myself, I would hate to see Bordon disappear under concrete, and the Army can stay as long as they want to. At least the areas round the Army Quarters are always tidy, and it is only the Army that keeps a lot of our green areas from being built on. I used to go to a lunch club at BOSC, and that is a lovely spot there. After lunch we used to watch the cricket and archery. It is very peaceful down there and I wouldn't like to see that destroyed. We used to see deer in the woods at the back of Savile Crescent, but since the houses have been built in Chase Road, Lindford, we don't see them. We are always told that the wildlife habitat will not be affected, but it always is. I have never wanted to live in a town, and I certainly do not want 5,000 more people.
Ann Budd - Bordon Resident
