ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 8 NOVEMBER 1889

CORRESPONDENCE — SUNDAY CLOSING

Sir,—From your report of the “Sunday Closing” meeting at Andover, I see that the Vicar had not quite understood one part of my letter, which he quoted no doubt from memory. In the meeting at Chichester, to which I referred, there was strong and noisy opposition to restrictions upon the Sunday use of publichouses, and still stronger support to complete Sunday closing; but only two hands in a large meeting were held up for restriction of hours short of complete Sunday closing. The facts seem to be that nobody wants it, reasonable as such a compromise appears, not even the poor publican, who would have his holiday spoilt, and have the expense of a seven days’ licence, without even the compensation of seven days’ profits.—I am, yours obediently, W.AWDRY. Amport Vicarage.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO — 6 NOVEMBER 1914

LOOKING AFTER THE CHILDREN

During the quarter ended Sept.30 the Hampshire North Branch of the N.S.P.C.C., which includes Andover in its area of work, inquired into 19 complaints of neglect, ill-treatment and other wrongs of childhood, of which 18 were found to be true, affecting 43 children and 26 offenders; 15 cases were warned, and three otherwise dealt with. The Society’s inspectors made 150 visits of supervision.

ST MARY BOURNE — CLEVER

Middle Wyke must of necessity be one of the quietest hamlets in the whole world, for even the fowls have plenty of time to learn things. We noticed this week that some had taken a few valuable wrinkles from their black brethren the rooks, and were contentedly following a couple of ploughs which were churning up the insects rather a distance from the chicken houses. Those Wyke fowls mean to be in good condition by Christmas to make up for the suggested scarcity of turkeys, and do not believe in wearing out their claws when worms are to be found staring them in the face otherwise.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 NOVEMBER 1939

WAS HE MORTIFIED?

A tabby cat had an unfortunate experience during the week-end. By some mischance it was shut into the window of a tailor’s shop in High Street, presumably on Saturday night, and had to stay there until it was released on Monday morning. The state of the window by then can be imagined. Tabby had discovered that a heap of pullovers made an ideal bed, shirts and bowler hats, and all the other contents of the window were decidedly disarranged, and the poor animal really hadn’t a chance prove that it was house-trained!

FIFTY YEARS AGO — 6 NOVEMBER 1964

NO CARS IN UNION ST?

Andover Borough Council agreed on Tuesday night to “pedestrianise” Union Street from the High Street to the car park just above the Andover British Legion Club.

The council agreed that subject to consultations with the occupiers of premises likely to be affected the town clerk (Mr.J.Whatley) take steps to get an order to prevent traffic using that part of Union Street.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO — 10 NOVEMBER 1989

RAIL FARES BREAK £2,000 ‘BARRIER’

Local rail commuters face an average none per cent fare increase from next February, pushing up the cost of some second class Andover to London season tickets to over £2,000 a year.

On the basis of a nine per cent rise, the cost of a second class annual season ticket from Andover to Waterloo will be just under £1,850, while the inclusive Travelcard fare, which allows underground and bus travel in London, will soar to £2,049.92.

Amid criticism from regular travellers that Brotish Rail is using bullying tactics to force commuters off the rail network and back onto already overcrowded roads, Southern Region say the increases are part of a planned business strategy to finance improvements in equipment and services, and provide additional safety measures.

10 YEARS AGO — 5 NOVEMBER 2004

PLANS FOR 3,500 NEW HOMES

Two major planning applications submitted to Test Valley Borough Council are seeking to build more than 3.500 homes in Andover.

The outline applications, if granted, would meet the town’s status as one of Hampshire’s Major Development Areas (MDA) up to and beyond 2011.

As an MDA Andover is required to build 3,000 new homes by 2011, although the draft Local Plan — currently the subject of a public enquiry — only allows for 2,400 on greenfield sites because some of the houses have already been built.

Westbury Homes has applied for 700 homes to be built at Picket Twenty between 2007 and 2011 in the first phase with a further 500 homes on the same site after 2011.

Wimpey Homes, meanwhile, has applied for a total of 2,500 homes on a site identified in the draft Local Plan at Icknield Way.

Planning consultant Richard Shaw said: “Our aim has been to create a flagship for future development in Andover and the rest of Test Valley. It will be a sustainable development committed to design quality.”

Included in the application is a primary school, as well as a community centre, health centre, pub, convenience store, children’s nursery, urban park, sports pitches and pavilion, children’s play facilities and a nine-hole golf course.

Mr Shaw said: “The development will encourage people to walk or cycle or use a public transport service, which will be subsidised in the early stages by Westbury.”

There will be new pedestrian and cycle routes linking the estate with the town and countryside. Public safety will be designed into the development with most properties facing onto the street and there will be in-built energy efficiency features.