Last night’s meeting of the Andover Town Council saw them backing the Town Centre Manager proposal and creating a committee to further investigate setting up a Heritage Steam Railway between Andover and Ludgershall.
The Town Centre Manager project will be a three-year one with the cost split between Andover Town Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council which each party contributing £9,330 per year. If the project is successful it is hoped this will eventually be taken on by the shops.
The job would be for 20 hours a week with the money to be split between the TCM salary and marketing costs. Whilst there were some concerns raised, the plan was carried in the vote.
The Heritage Steam Railway proposal was to set up a steering committee to further investigate the project with regards to viability and possible grants available. Comments were made that the project – between Andover and Ludgershall – had the potential to be a major boost for both towns.
After explanations that the investigation would not involve any cost (bar possibly a few letters), the vote was carried unanimously.
A full report on the meeting is planned to appear in next Friday’s Andover Advertiser.
