BASINGSTOKE residents have backed The Gazette’s campaign calling for urgent action to be taken to breathe life back into our town centre.

Dozens of readers have given their support to our ‘Basingstoke Deserves Better’ campaign which was launched last week.

The call for action came just days after this newspaper revealed the number of empty shops in the town centre was at an all-time high, at 50 units.

Last week, we called on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to work to fill the empty shop units, to not fill vacant space with new homes, and to undertake a once-in-a-generation rebranding exercise.

It has since received the backing from scores of residents across the town, as well as senior opposition councillors including Labour’s Cllr Andy McCormick and the Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group’s Cllr Paul Harvey.

Meanwhile, the leader of BDBC, Cllr Ken Rhatigan, has since responded to the campaign, saying that the council is “working day and night to ensure Basingstoke remains a great place to live and work for years to come”.

You can read the full story in this week’s edition of The Gazette. Also in this week's paper:

  • A senior councillor has “grave concerns” about plans which could see more than £20 million slashed from the children’s services budget in Hampshire
  • A loving grandmother from Basingstoke has been fundraising to receive a set of sparkling new teeth, after losing them during her chemotherapy treatment
  • Burger lovers grieving the loss of Basingstoke’s Gourmet Burger Kitchen will be pleased to know a new chain has announced it is coming to town
  • A brand-new cohort of excited teachers who trained in Basingstoke celebrated became qualified in a special graduation night
  • PLUS: All the latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court
  • Two pages of your letters to the editor 
  • Pictures: Our favourite photos of this week's harvest moon taken in Basingstoke 
  • One page of news from our communities
  • An eight-page puzzle special
  • One page of business news
  • Three pages of entertainment news.
  • Four pages of sports news. And much more!

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