MORE than 100 people have signed a petition to save Whitehill and Bordon’s walks.

Campaigners launched a petition, at the end of June, calling for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the new relief road in Bordon, to give walkers access to their favourite woodland and green spaces.

Town resident Lucy Holden said she started the petition after hearing that Budds Lane field will close to pave the way for the new Mill Chase Academy. She said: “Many residents use this land to walk and socialise. After this green area closes, two central spaces will be inaccessible to the public as the footpath leading to Oxney Farm has been closed off since work on the relief road started in this area on April 18.”

The petition claims the “dramatic change of landscape” seen in Whitehill and Bordon is “heartbreaking”, describing one of the town’s iconic spots as “now but a shadow of its former beauty”.

“This campaign has been initiated to reflect the views of local townspeople who want to be able to still have access to what is left of the green spaces in Bordon,” it adds. “Old, well-used footpaths have been closed without alternatives offered and road developers have not considered where local people will walk.

“We want to enact change which is why we are petitioning for a pedestrian bridge to be built from Station Road leading to Oxney Moss Road and Martinique Square so that we may still have access to our local outside spaces.”

A county council spokesman told the Bordon Herald that, although it is developing the new relief road, such extra work does not necessarily fall in its remit.

Rather, she said, the council was overseeing the development on behalf of landowner - the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.

She insisted there would be places for people to cross the new relief road.