WHITEHILL town councillors have approved proposals to improve "neglected" Bordon High Street, although the final decision rests with the district council. Councillors, at a planning and amenities committee meeting on Monday, agreed to a three-year temporary planning application for changes to three outlets; the creation of a parking area next to them, and the improvement of the Lynton Road access behind them. The proposal would see the refurbishment and repair of the frontages of numbers two to five in the High Street. This would be in line with the town's Green Town Vision, aimed at making the town more visually attractive while providing the potential for more investment and retail choice for residents. After the meeting, town councillor Don Mayes said of the High Street and Chalet Hill: "Anything at the moment would be an improvement on what we have. "I think you will find that most people will regard this as a step in the right direction." While the general consensus seems to be that a full development should be put in place on the High Street and Chalet Hill, there is still no definite numbers for housing to go on brownfield sites once the Army has withdrawn. Mr Mayes added: "Until we know the full extent of the number of houses to be buit on the Army's vacated land - whether's it's 1,000 homes or 4,500 homes - it's difficult to know what comprehensive plan should be put in place on the High Street. "A full development of the High Street is what we want, but we don't know how many people the town will end up having to accommodate while there is still so much speculation." It is hoped the work would quickly improve the visual impact of the area and allow income to be generated from an otherwise derelict site. It would also include the creation of a parking area on an adjacent site for 14 vehicles. The work in Lynton Road would lead to access coming from the southern end, with the removal of the bollards and their subsequent relocation to the northern part of the road to prevent a rat run. This would also reduce the amount of traffic entering and leaving from the Chalet Hill junction, while allowing safer and easier access to Lynton Road. In last week's Herald, it was reported that Ian Dowdle, chairman of the Whitehill-Bordon Business Breakthrough Group, had moved Robin Cycles into a unit on the High Street from Lindford. Mr Dowdle said it was essential to make "shopping in Bordon more customer and user friendly" and "more appealing to attract shoppers and investors". He added it was an ideal time to begin work on redevelopment as "the High Street along the A325 is the result of 20 years of neglect", which needed to be reversed. But Whitehill Town Council can only comment on applications and decisions are made by East Hampshire District Council - the local planning authority. This application will be dealt with by district council officers with delegated powers who will have access to the positive comments made by Whitehill town councillors. A similar proposal was first discussed by the committee in April 2004, but the district council had objections. It stated that there was insufficient car parking to accommodate an increase in shopping outlets, there was unsatisfactory vehicle access along Lynton Road and that a public house was not a requirement for that area. Monday's meeting also raised discussions as to whether the application would prejudice the comprehensive development of Chalet Hill and the High Street. This remains the long-term aim of developers and councillors, but with the realisation that this could take a number of years, the current proposal is being regarded as a "stop gap".