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It is not that I can accuse Coun Margaret Snaith, Hampshire County Council’s head of recreation, of lying about her continuing threat to the West End Centre because she is not doing so. With her director she has a game plan supported, I believe, by others in the immediate area, to push through a discovery centre.

That has always been her intent and she and others seek to make sure that all the appropriate stages in an apparent assessment, consultation and evidence-based plan are acted upon within limited time against the overwhelming wishes of the people of Aldershot and beyond.

As someone who has been associated directly with the West End Centre for many years, I will once again say, as I said at the open meeting when the threat first emerged, the West End Centre is not your average small town  centre, but one which plays an important part in the culture of the wider south east.

Those siren voices fail to understand that to them it’s all about capital assets and disposal.

Whatever the benefits of a discovery centre (I much prefer having visited and interacted in the vastly costly Winchester one) it makes sense to be involved with the local library  – but a music centre cheek by jowl with a library is a complete nonsense.

Now it’s getting serious. It’s not about saving the West End Centre but getting rid of those who are proposing such a thing take place and showing our complete alienation with Winchester as well.

The battle is resumed and will get bloody – but if that’s what they want they we are ready for them.

Coun Mike Roberts, Cargate Avenue, Aldershot