REGARDING the leisure centre, Andover High Street and car parking.

The leisure centre: The proposed new leisure centre, which isn’t an improvement on the existing one, begs the question, “What would be the cost of renovation of the existing one?”

Would it be more than the loss of two years’ revenue due to the closure of the existing centre?

If less than why not renovate?

For any project of this size the estimated costs of renovation, loss of revenue, and cost of provision of new facility would have been calculated.

Can these figures be published?

Also the percentage increase of costs of admission for the new facility; they won’t be cheaper.

Andover High Street’s character: If you look around Andover you will see erected replicas of old gas lamps, some in East Street and other locations.

Why were they erected in those locations which already had adequate lighting?

I do not know.

I would suggest an alternative to Andover High Street being lit up like an airport car park with those hideous lights, I assume initially for CCTV use.

To improve the character of the High Street these lights should be removed along with the concrete balls and the planters and replaced with some more pleasing lighting similar to the replica gas lamps which would blend in with the existing gas lamp in front of the Guildhall.

This would help to change and improve the character of the High Street.

In the summer hanging baskets could be placed on these lamps again enhancing the character of the High Street.

Car parking: With regard to car parking I would suggest pay on exit barriers with the current technology and the first half an hour being free.

With such a scheme various parking options could be available such as a five-day ticket, three-month ticket, etc.

If you have to park to work it is a considerable expense.

Such a scheme would allow possible concessions to those who work in the town.

Another advantage to the council is that purchasing advance tickets give them the cash up front reducing the cost of collecting and processing cash payments.

Peter Steele, Acre Path, Andover