£1.3 million make over for Andover town centre

Hampshire County Council has given the go ahead for a new access to Andover’s Town Mill Car Park to ease congestion and encourage more cycling and walking in the Town Centre.

Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader of Hampshire County Council and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment, approved plans for the £1.3 million upgrades at his recent decision day.

Councillor Humby said: “We’ve designed this scheme to reduce congestion and improve air quality in the town centre by providing a new access to the Town Mill car park.  This improvement is linked to Test Valley Borough Council’s regeneration plans for Andover Town Centre, and means that all the town car parks will be accessible from the ring road, making the town centre a more attractive area for pedestrians and improving provision for cycling and walking into town.
“The County Council is keen to actively support our market towns across Hampshire and is investing capital funds to help them prosper.”

Hampshire County Council will deliver the £1.3 million scheme and is providing £657,000 of the funding with the remainder provided by contributions of £513,000 from the Enterprise M3 Local Economic Partnership, and £133,000 from Test Valley Borough Council.

The improvements will include:
• A new access provided into the Town Mill car park from the A3057 Western Avenue, which will allow the current access off Bridge Street to be physically closed to through traffic and enhanced to allow access for pedestrians and cyclists;
• The existing footpath through the Pocket Park will be widened to three metres for use by pedestrians;
• Improved street furniture, including new benches, will also be provided throughout the area to create more seating for people visiting the park;
• The current access into the Town Mills car park via Bridge Street will be closed off to vehicles and converted into a pedestrianised area and a 3.5 metre wide shared use footway will also be provided to improve cycle links in and around the town centre;
• The use of York stone paving and other high-quality materials will enhance the area adjacent to the River Anton.

Work on the scheme is due to start early in 2020 with the aim that it is completed by the end of summer 2020.

For more information visit: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/andovertownmill 

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