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Have Your Say on Gosport Waterfront

Residents will get a chance to have their say over a new masterplan being developed for the Gosport Waterfront, when next week, a six day consultation exhibition takes place at Gosport Discovery Centre.

From Monday 8 until Saturday 13 March, the exhibition will be open to the public. Consultants Colin Buchanan & Partners, who are undertaking the study on behalf of the Council, will be on hand to discuss ideas on Monday 8 March, whilst Council Officers will staff the exhibition on Tuesday 9 March.

"This is going to be an important decision when it is finally made, affecting a large and important part of our town, some might say the gateway to the town, so it is important we get it right," said Councillor Mark Hook, Leader of the Council. "For that reason we want as many residents, businesses and visitors as possible to get involved and have their say."

Funding for the study is coming via the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), and when complete the ambitious masterplan will show how an area which runs from the historic Royal Clarence Yard along the waterfront to Haslar Marina, and will include the High Street, could look.

"Setting up as a rival to Gunwharf or Port Solent has never been our intention," added Mark.  "This is about changing the area's image; to shape a Gosport for our future, for our children's' future. That means identifying our strengths and developing on them to provide a vibrant and dynamic waterfront which will ‘complement' our neighbours not ‘rival them'."

The exhibition will run all week, but consultants and Council staff will be on hand on to listen to your ideas. So come and tell us what you think are Gosport's strengths, what you would like to see more of or less of in any new masterplan proposals for Gosport's fantastic Waterfront.

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Comments

LynneD

At 08:46 on 16th March 2010, LynneD commented:

I have lived in Gosport for 36 years and thankfully no longer have to commute miles to work (I used to have to travel to Southampton, Chandlers Ford and Hamble but now it's jsut Titchfield). I live here because I love Stokes Bay and the village of Alverstoke where I have lived for the last 17 years. On a positive note, we have many supermarkets, a great street market, beautiful bay and easy access to Portsmouth over the ferry. I have great friends locally so can walk to most social occasions and have tried to leave the village each time we move, but keep on buying in Alverstoke! However, Gosport is a well kept secret that most people west of Fareham think is a complete dump! I have to agree that the shopping area is dire, full of banks, building societies, charity shops and cheap clothing shops! The waterfront development was promised over 10 years ago as was improvement to the infrasctructure but thousands of houses have been built over the last 20 years with no extra facilities or roads (apart from the new one through the estate to Lee, which took 6 years to complete!). Gosport will never attract visitors if the roads remain unimproved. I think the bus station should be flattened and on the site a cinema, decent restaurants and shops should be built. The view is beautiful of the harbour but the whole place is tired and there is simply no reason to shop in Gosport! If the development does eventually happen, perhaps people would stay in Gosport instead of getting the ferry to Gunwharf for the fantastic shops, bars and restaurants that are there. An achor store, such as Debenhams or John Lewis would be a fantastic draw for residents and visitors alike and to have a cinema on our doorstep would be a huge bonus - no more travelling on the dreaded A32 to Fareham or across the ferry to Gunwharf. I really hope this time, the development goes ahead and comments such as mine are noted. Thank you. LynneD

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