WHITEHILL and Bordon Regeneration Company has to make sure the “risk of two halves and of leaving people behind doesn’t happen”, because if it does they will have “failed”.

That was according to James Child, project lead, after Reverend Deborah Scott-Bromley, Church of England minister at St Mark’s Shared Church in Bordon, raised concerns the existing Bordon is in “grave danger of becoming the Cinderella”.

During Thursday night’s meeting, Revd Scott-Bromley, said: “All these super wonderful things are happening over there, but the poorer part of Bordon is going to be left a bit on its own, a bit marginalised.”

She continued: “I think we’re going to see more poverty, more mental health issues and more neglect if we’re not very careful, and I’d like to think the regeneration includes this part of Bordon.”

Mr Child agreed and said a town with two parts could be the worst thing that happens to Bordon. He said they are working with public stakeholders and groups to “bridge the gap and make sure everybody benefits from what we’re doing, not just a few”.

He added: “We’re here to build value for the town as a whole, not just for the west of the town.”

“We want to avoid all the divisions as much as we can, but that is only possible if we work collectively to solve those problems.”

Revd Scott-Bromley also spoke about the rise in anti-social behaviour and suggested they are “already beginning to feel marginalised by what’s happening”.

In response, Mr Child said: “There’s a dysfunctional youth agenda in the town, there’s too many different things going on and it needs to be joined up.”

Youth remained a focus, with another resident asking what facilities there are for youngsters “to keep them off the street”.

Mr Child said they’re looking at turning the old Mustangs building on Budds Lane into a new community facility focused on youth. A planning application is expected around autumn.

But town councillor Katie Anscomb said: “It seems a somewhat contradictory argument that we have Pinewood Village Hall which we are at huge risk of losing as a community facility, but we have the hall here permanently booked and Whitehill Village Hall is constantly booked. What are we doing to join all those groups together?”

Mr Child said they need to “arrange the different types of facilities”, adding: “The district council has been at pains to challenge us on making sure the range of facilities that could come into the town are fit for purpose, that they meet what people want for what they want to use them for.”