A THREE-year-long battle to tear down a social club and replace it with a medical centre and homes has finally got the thumbs up.

Osborne Road Developments Ltd applied in 2016 to tear down part of the former Wykeham Club, and it returned with a series of applications all of which were refused by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) or withdrawn.

But last year the developer took two of its schemes to the Planning Inspectorate which has now ruled in its favour on one of them.

Also in this week's paper:

- Veteran takes on record-setting row challenge - Fitness club fights for funding free children classes to tackle obesity - Family stuck in hotel after gas explosion damaged house - Political campaigners blast MP for backing prime minister's Brexit deal - Council's regeneration plan for town needs capacity boost, says review - Andover parents have first baby of new year at Basingstoke hospital - News from our patches, including Whitchurch and Overton and Tidworth and Ludgershall.

- Two pages of YOUR letters

- Two pages of your local sport

And much much more!

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