I WANTED to write and thank Tony Hooke for making me laugh out loud with his letter last week. I will say I thought it was more Viz or Private Eye than Advertiser.

Folks his letter is without doubt the first of many from the usual politicians electioneering and chasing your votes by promising you the ‘World and His Dog’.

In his letter Tony talks of taking over Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) and unilaterally deciding to shut down our town council. Now as I understand it (and I am still learning) TVBC cannot legally just decide to do this so can I assume Tony will either ignore the letter of the law or change the laws via his majority in Parliament and The House of Lords?

I also note that he mentions fairness so can I assume he’ll also be shutting down Yateley Town Council where he lives as well as Romsey’s in the south of Test Valley?

I am always very open to ideas but I wholeheartedly oppose this as I believe that the people of Andover have a right to political representation just as do other towns in this country.

As an independent councillor what I can offer if elected to the town council next year is to work to expand the portfolio of the town council (which has been slower than I’d like) and engage with the young people across Andover to expand our youth council as I see it as a way of developing healthy politics.

The only promise I will make is to remain independent, which means no party politics from me but as I have already demonstrated I am happy to work constructively with ALL people and parties (note all) to get stuff done in the best interests of Andover.

I’ve no doubt that this letter will attract the usual bullying on the web and a further slating in the papers.

Can I suggest we set aside our differences and all work together.

Geoffrey McBride BSc [Hons] GSM Chairman Andover Town Council