Welcome to Easthampshire.org

Whitehill Bordon awarded Eco-town status!

Thursday 16th of July 2009

Comments Have your say

Whitehill Bordon has been awarded Eco-town status, it was revealed today. 

The town is now set to become one of England's first Eco-towns and will show the rest of the world how to beat climate change.

Whitehill Bordon is one of four towns given the new sought-after status and because of this it could soon have a railway line running to London. 

What Whitehill Bordon's town centre could be like with Eco-town status

A massive amount of funding has been earmarked to breathe life into the town.

Whitehill Bordon will now be considered a ‘regional priority' which means the town is considered before others for health, transport, leisure, business and educational facilities. 

The town is now eligible for a range of grants - so some of the key projects can be started this year.

For more information see: www.whitehillbordon.com

The bid for Eco-town status was led by East Hampshire District Council and the Whitehill Bordon Opportunity Executive Group. 

Residents have been calling on the council to provide better facilities, more jobs and an improved town centre so the council developed the Green Town Vision. 

You may also be interested in...

• Councillors meet and greet on Alton streets
• Community Safety Partnership helps guide young people from crime
• Help steer improvements to local transport

This is a plan to give the town the facilities and infrastructure it so desperately needs while also protecting the environment. 

Securing Eco-town status is a way of delivering the Green Town Vision as it brings a massive amount of Government funding and support

The council has pledged to go above and beyond the environmental targets laid out by the Eco-town criteria. 

The town will be striving to become ‘carbon neutral' by 2036 - this means that the carbon footprint of the new, larger town will not exceed the carbon footprint of the existing town.

As well as this the council plans to not only protect the important local biodiversity and environment but to actually achieve a net increase in biodiversity.

Another key priority will be to reduce water usage and wastage to make the town a ‘water neutral' development - which means that the new town will not exceed current water usage. 

There are also plans to create 7,000 new jobs by encouraging investment in the town from businesses and industry.

As well as this, a pedestrian-friendly town centre will be created.

This will breathe life into the town which is clearly in need of more shops, facilities and jobs. 

The public transport in the town and surrounding villages will now start to be dramatically improved because of Eco-town status. 

EHDC is working with Hampshire County Council, which is the transport authority, and the Department for Transport to ensure that the town will be properly linked by public transport. 

To kick-start the improvements EHDC has already committed to spend up to £1,000,000 across the district - with Whitehill Bordon being a top priority.

The Department for Transport and Hampshire County Council will be funding projects to improve transport in the area, including innovative public transport methods. 

Cllr Ferris Cowper, the Leader of East Hampshire District Council, said: "Today is a wonderful day for Whitehill Bordon.

"Securing Eco-town status is the biggest thing to happen to the town and it will ensure that it has a bright future. 

"East Hampshire District Council has worked hard to improve the town for its residents and by achieving Eco-town status we can now start creating better opportunities in Whitehill Bordon

"The status will raise the profile of the town and help attract investment, jobs and facilities. 

"As the world tries to combat the effects of climate change Whitehill Bordon will be at the cutting edge of this and will help to lead the way in sustainable living. 

"The whole world desperately   needs to cut carbon emissions and Whitehill Bordon will be setting the pace for other towns and communities."

Daphne Gardner, EHDC's acting chief executive, said: "The Eco-town designation marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another.

"We have tried all along to listen carefully to the views of people in the town, which is why we developed the Green Town Vision.  

"The Eco-town process provides the opportunity to deliver the Green Town Vision which will create a vibrant, sustainable town which will meet the needs of everyone living and working in Whitehill Bordon."

A draft masterplan for the town is currently being developed and there will be further consultation.