A BUILDING site near the Forest Shopping Centre has been described as looking “like a bomb site” after work ground to a halt in July.

The site in Pinehill Road is part of a long-running project set to rejuvenate the centre, and is one of two residential apartment blocks – the other is in Heathcote Road.

But after work started earlier in 2019 – three years after planning permission was granted – they “ceased approximately in July”, according to deputy town clerk at Whitehill Town Council, David Melsome.

And this week Reverend Deborah Scott-Bromley, Church of England minister at St Mark’s Shared Church in Bordon, told the Herald: “They started digging the foundations, but it is now filling with water. There is rusting machinery – it is a real eyesore and dangerous.

“I am worried about the danger and it looks like a bomb site. It is just terrible.”

Karla Reale, Whitehill & Bordon Community Association trustee, said: “Work has now come to a halt, leaving a very insecure site with the fencing down and rubbish being thrown into the site.

“At the Forest Community Centre, we are experiencing parking problems and this is an attractor for vandals.”

Fencing was reportedly back up around the site on Tuesday.

A spokesman for East Hampshire District Council, which is the planning authority, said: “There is no breach of planning permission at this point. However, our planning enforcement team has asked the health and safety executive to examine the site as it should be fenced off for the safety of the public.”

But according to town council leader Councillor Andy Tree, the district authority responded to the town council and said the build “had to be halted because of contractual issues but this is now resolved”, adding the project is “due to recommence”.

The applicant did not respond to the Herald’s request for a comment.