TWO letters in the 23 January edition caught my eye. One calling for a department store and another saying we don’t need one.

I do think it would be helpful to point out that no local council has the power to place a specifically named shop into the High Street or the Chantry Centre.

Neither do the councils have the ability to unilaterally cut rents or rates to meet demands from such a business, however desirable that may appear.

However, I can confirmthat Test Valley has made contact with over 80 businesses that have expressed an interest in investigating premises in Andover asking them about their precise requirements and put them in touch with local letting agents.

Sadly department stores are a harder draw to the town as we are situated in the middle of Newbury, Winchester, Salisbury, Basingstoke and Southampton, all covering big stores. It has not stopped TVBC from continually trying to encourage the larger stores to our town.

In addition, the Independent Retailer Grant is designed to attract independent retailers into vacant shop units in Andover and Romsey town centres. The £1,000 fund is complemented by additional benefits such as membership of the British Independent Retailer Association.

And finally there is the pop-up-shop which was located in a vacant unit at 4 Bridge Street, opening for a total of nine weeks from October to December 2013.

The good news here is that both former occupants, The Travelling Cup Cake and Lonefairy Jewellery, have secured longer term leases within the town centre.

While there will always be more to do, Test Valley is clearly making significant progress in supporting local High Street businesses.

I am fully committed to the growth and development of our town, and will continue to help encourage change.

Councillor Karen Hamilton, Harroway ward