1:37pm Friday 16th May 2008
By Lydia Tipple
ADULT evening classes and more car parking spaces are just two of the things Stockbridge residents would like to see in their village.
About 30 residents from Stockbridge and the surrounding area attended a tea party on Monday hosted by town manager Liz Bourne and parish councillor Sally Milligan.
The purpose was for Liz to get an idea about what residents want in their village. She believes it's important to listen to public opinion.
"It's really important that I do what they want so they don't get something imposed on them whether they want it or not," said Liz.
"It's vital for me to understand what it is they feel they could benefit from as a community."
Among some of the suggestions made was a delicatessen in the village, more bins in the High Street, a community learning centre and even an internet café.
One group wanted Stockbridge to stay the same and remain a quiet little village.
"We would like Stockbridge to stay as a village as much as possible," said Jean Boney, group spokeswoman.
"We don't want it to become a big market town like Romsey or Andover."
Liz was pleased with their responses. "This is a brilliant way of getting public views across," she said.
"If this sort of thing does the trick and proves a success it might be worth making it a six-monthly event."
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