FARNHAM

The closing credits have rolled on a year which brought cinema back to Farnham, a new MP and constituency, and multiple road closures and queues to Wrecclesham. Some things don’t change in that respect.

The town also said goodbye to Britain’s smelliest chippy, a belated hello to Brightwells Yard and its inaugural tenants, and averted its eyes on South Street.

The year began with Reel opening its doors at the “loss-making” Brightwells Yard and hundreds protesting against plans for a McDonald’s near Tice’s Meadow.

A mighty tree was felled at Gostrey Meadow, proposals to revamp the town centre road network were revealed and plans for a Muslim funeral building were lodged, rejected and went to appeal.

Changes were made to the Shepherd & Flock roundabout, Farnham Town celebrated an undefeated season, Beerex brought cheers, and East Street was given an overhaul.

Two villages lost their pubs with The Donkey and Barley Mow both closing, although the latter was snapped up by locals. The Northern Lights also brought wonder to the skies, while bacteria levels in the Wey made people sick.

The cheer that Weyfest brought was tempered by financial problems at the Rural Life Museum while the stabbings in Southport brought unrest to Aldershot and some locals in the dock.

Greg Stafford became MP after a close battle while contentious plans for housing on Waverley Lane were approved because of late paperwork.

And that’s before we mention the storms, the Coppa Club mystery, the conversion of Lloyds into the Teller’s Arms, pavement parking on East Street and the Coxbridge Farm estate finally getting the green light. Oh, and did someone mention Wetherspoons are coming to town? PF

HASLEMERE

Residents were flushed with joy as the year began when the town’s controversial public toilets finally opened their stalls.

The lime-green loos on Lion Green in Shottermill were built a year earlier but had been bogged down by delays after builders botched the laying of a concrete base.

The toilets became something of an ongoing joke, with the Herald running a ‘Bog Bulletin’ to update residents.

Another big story was the Scotland Park development. During the summer, residents were outraged by the disruption caused by the building work on the housing project.

Elivia Homes was in the process of building 50 new homes off Scotland Lane, but the project was slammed for harming wildlife, destroying neighbouring walls, and causing noise and dust pollution.

Residents spoke of the chaos caused by heavy-duty lorries on the previously peaceful road, which resulted in damaged roads and verges.

The year ended with sad news for one of Haslemere’s most-cherished trees, which was felled amidst a storm of local opposition.

The 'ancient' common beech, estimated to be 150 years old, prompted a determined effort by residents to save it from being cut down.

While one part of Haslemere’s history was lost, another continued in 2024. On the May Bank Holiday, the town’s 800-year-old Charter Fair returned after a two-year absence. Despite some inclement weather, the fair was deemed a huge success. HB

ALTON

In January Jade Smith and Lydia Bradburn-Smith welcomed children to their Mini Explorers Club at Chawton Park Farm.

February saw families from Andrews’ Endowed CE Primary School join a litter picking Trash Mob while police and crime commissioner Donna Jones raised her deep concerns in March about a rise in drug deaths in the county.

Imogen Sillitoe and Juliet Lawrence from Alton announced in April that they were doing a charity skydive in memory of Juliet's sister Maddy.

The summer closure of Alton School shocked parents and pupils while Gerard Butler brought some Hollywood glamour to town in May.

Alton Arts Festival organisers announced in June that 3,000 children would enjoy free creative workshops as part of the festival.

More than 43,000 Ahmadiyya Muslims travelled to Oaklands Farm near East Worldham for Jalsa Salana in July.

Alton’s MasterChef winner Chariya Khattiyot opened her restaurant before joining comedians Luke Bateman and Elliott Williams for a show in August, and there was a heated debate in the Assembly Rooms as the neighbourhood plan and Windmill Hill debate prompted a mass resignation.

Lower Froyle mum Katie Edbrook announced in November that she was planning a sponsored walk for her deaf baby daughter Tiggy.

The Kinnear family in Four Marks took their Christmas display to dazzling new heights in December, with 25,000 lights adorning the front of their home in Goldcrest Way. PC

PETERSFIELD

We end the year in the dock as Anarlyn Jones will be sentenced in late January after being found guilty of murdering his mother Anna Jones at her Station Road flat in 2023.

EHDC has announced a ten per cent increase to its car park charges while fly-tipping has been on the increase in East Hampshire, with natural beauty spots targeted but on the upside the Petersfield tip was saved from closure.

Petersfield welcomed a new town mayor in Lesley Farrow as it said goodbye to JC Crissey, marking a new chapter as the Festival Hall redevelopment plans progressed.

Other big news included progress on plans for a new police station, proposals for a new SEN school in Empshott and our reporters joining farmers from the area at the protest in London.

Rounding off the year were some uplifting stories during the festive season that warmed the heart.

Joe Tully, 15, collected food and items for people in need and charities for his 11th Petersfield Christmas Give and TPS participated in a 14-hour sportathon to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

A Clanfield couple moved back home in time for Christmas after a fire set it alight in December 2022 and a surprise party and retirement pot was set up by residents for their favourite delivery driver retiring on Christmas Eve. MMo

BORDON

If you look on the ‘most read’ section of a newspaper website, the chances are stories involving road closures, accidents, restaurants, shops will be right at the top.

Bordon is no exception and the will they, won’t they saga of Morrisons-Sainsbury’s moving to the (eventual?) town centre often made the list along with the health hub.

As does the Forest Centre, as stories from earlier this year included Lidl hopes of relocating, Forest Cobblers saying a fond farewell and B&M replacing Wilkos.

Although new housing continues to appear, the same can’t be said for infrastructure and there’s rightly been gripes. The Future Skills Centre has closed, many of The Shed’s original vendors have moved on and there was anger at the war memorial on Budds Lane making way for… yep, more housing.

Perhaps January set the tone with the Bordon-Lindford road being closed for weeks.

Stories involving the MOD continue to surface, like the tenants on Bolley Avenue being given notice to leave and Afghan refugees moving into Trenchard Park.

We do have to report on bad news and the ballbearing attack in Greatham and sexual assault in Bordon Inclosure were among the hardest to write.

But there’s been plenty to celebrate: the success of GCSE students, the D-Day commemorations and revamping of The Phoenix, not to mention the Headley scout who saved a diner from choking.

And the Royal Oak reopened after nearly five years!

That’s got to be worth a New Year’s toast. PF