A former Herald columnist and regular contributor to our letters pages has praised the commitment of Altonians to saving Kings Pond.

Peter Desmond-Thomas, who wrote the Rear View Mirror column, was among the throng packed into the Alton Maltings Centre for the big debate on January 18.

Most were there to express their opposition to a proposal to separate Kings Pond from the River Wey.

He said: “The Herald quoted ‘over 100’ in attendance.

“I checked three times and I made around 150 there on the night.

“It was the biggest turnout for any civic issue in the near nine years I have lived in Alton.”