In its response, Highways England indicated that it had yet to be approached about the scheme but said that it was aware of the Home Office’s proposal. Cllr North said that the immigration minister, Chris Philip, had confirmed that the Home Office would now be “seeking specialist advice” regarding concerns over the nearby A303, as well as habitats directives, such as those on nitrogen neutrality, which apply to Test Valley. Cllr North said: “It seems that our persistent correspondence with the Immigration Minister, Chris Philp is starting to pay off. “He has confirmed that the Home Office is now seeking specialist advice on the two matters of major concern that Caroline and I raised with him at the very beginning, namely highways and habitats regulations. At a multi-agency forum last week, Home Office officials stated that this would take between 10 and 12 weeks. They also confirmed a final decision wouldn t be taken before that advice is received.
Andover Town Council has deferred a decision on whether or not to support a plan by Andover Ramblers to ask Hampshire County Council (HCC) to not mark some rights of way in town. Andover Ramblers had asked councillors to support a proposal to relieve HCC of the duty so that these signs do not “skew” assessments of maintaining rights of way across the county, particularly in rural areas. However, councillors were unable to find a map of the affected routes, deciding to contact HCC directly to address some of their concerns. Under the Countryside Act 1968, highway authorities such as Hampshire Highways have a duty to erect a sign “at every point where a footpath, bridleway, restricted byway or byway leaves a metalled road” and indicate the direction and distance of points on that right of way.
Andover Town Council is to publish a design statement for the town centre this week following a series of delays and controversies over the plans. The statement, which will outline guidance on how to retain the character of the town centre, will initially focus on Andover’s conservation area, which runs from Andover Cemetery in the north to the South Street roundabout junction. The document will be launched online on Friday, with the public invited to provide feedback on the initial plans. Discussions to shape planning in the town with a document date back many years, with Andover Town Council having looked to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for the whole town in 2013, which would have been used to guide decisions on planning applications by the borough council.
Plans for the construction of a grain store in Tangley will go ahead despite councillors raising concerns it would put a junction “dangerously close” to a blind bend. Councillors were concerned that a new access point to be built on Mays Down Lane would be too close to the brow of a hill, and next to the 60mph A343 road to Newbury. Cllr Nick Matthews voted against the plans, saying: “I wouldn’t be comfortable if I’ve agreed to this and then we later find out there had been an accident or fatality and I was party to that.”
Liberal Democrats in Andover have been criticised for delivering leaflets during lockdown. Residents in the south of town received leaflets from the party on January 4. At the time, Andover was under Tier Four restrictions, which carried a ‘Stay at Home’ message, except for essential activities. Hampshire Constabulary confirmed to the Advertiser that “there is no exception” for leafleting under the regulations, with one town councillor accusing the party of having “one rule for them” and another for the rest of the public. However, the Liberal Democrats said that the deliveries were “in accordance with national legal guidance and advice” and that contact with no members of the public had been made.