HE IS touring the borough to get to know the constituents.

Cllr Phil North, Test Valley Borough Council’s new Leader, continued his tour of the Borough last week in North Baddesley, being shown the area by local Councillor and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Celia Dowden and Valley Park Councillor, Alan Dowden. Phil is visiting every area of the Borough, fulfilling a promise to ensure he gets to know each and every community in Test Valley.

Cllr North said: “Representing an Andover Ward, I feel it’s especially important that I get to know, in detail, the southern communities of Test Valley and I thank Celia and Alan for giving me a really detailed tour of their wards of North Baddesley and Valley Park. I was able to see the Hoe Lane development site; the new pathway that has just been constructed at Glendowan Road and visit Knightwood Leisure Centre, where we are developing a new building for the local pre-school and intend to work together to try and improve pedestrian access.”

Last week the leader visited Romsey and spoke to new mayor Cllr Ian Hibberd.

Cllr Celia Dowden said: “I welcome the new leader's intention to visit every ward in the Borough. I was pleased to show him the diversity within the North Baddesley ward and discuss with him some of the issues."

Cllr Alan Dowden added:" I think the new leader was impressed with Valley Park and I appreciated the opportunity to show him around and talk about ways we can further improve the area."