Traffic chaos top of agenda in Gosport
Finding ways of breathing new life into run-down Gosport dominated an election debate in the town.
In The News-organised hustings, three issues dominated last night's discussion: the town's notorious road system, health care and jobs.
Members of the audience quizzed candidates from five parties fighting the Gosport constituency about their priorities and it was clear that all three topics were linked.
Speaker after speaker blamed the A32 and its life-sucking queues and bottlenecks for wrecking Gosport's economy and driving patients heading for Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham to distraction.
Labour candidate Graham Giles said he believed his government's decision to build two Portsmouth-based aircraft carriers would mean extra manufacturing jobs for the town.
He said: 'Labour's plans for the future of Gosport are radically different to those of the Tories.
'Labour has guaranteed to build the two new aircraft carriers which will need thousands of apprenticeships. I will push for those manufacturing jobs to come back to Gosport not just now but for the next 20 to 30 years.'
Tory hopeful Caroline Dinenage said one of the ways to keep people in the town would be to redevelop the waterfront.
'We are sitting on an absolute jewel,' she said.
'The waterfront is beautiful and getting it right is essential. We want to stop people automatically crossing the harbour to Gunwharf.
'So, the waterfront redevelopment should offer not just housing but opportunities for people to spend their money in Gosport too.'
UK Independence Party candidate Andrew Rice was adamant that Gosport businesses would be better off if Britain left the EU.
He said: 'They are battling with too much legislation, three-quarters of which comes not from Westminster but from Brussels.'
Green candidate Claire Smith agreed with the entire gathering at Thorngate Halls that Gosport's demise started with the axing of the railway line in the 1960s.
She said she would push for a high-speed bus link along the line of the old track.
'I know it's not going to solve all the problems, but to have that link to Fareham railway station would take a lot of traffic off the A32.'
Lib Dem Rob Hylands said his party supported expansion of the rail network. 'We would open new branch lines. We had one here once. Why not again?,' he said.
For all the latest Election 2010 news go to our special section with dedicated areas for constituencies within The News region
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