Happy New Year!

I say that with cautious optimism because despite the bleak news of the more transmissible strain of Covid and the New Year, new tier, there are reasons to be cheerful. Thanks to the rollout of the vaccination programme, which started in Test Valley before Christmas, and now with the new AstraZeneca vaccine given the go-ahead, I’m hopeful that 2021 will be much brighter. Indeed, when I spoke to the Director of Public Health for Hampshire on Christmas Eve, he confirmed that both the new AstraZeneca and the current Pfizer vaccine could start to be rolled out simultaneously. Speeding up the immunisation programme.

In addition to providing the vaccination centres, Test Valley is continuing to work with our community services partner Unity to ensure the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable and those self-isolating have access to food and medicines. Earlier this year, Test Valley distributed £20,000 to the foodbanks in the borough to help with any extra demand over the winter months.

Whilst it’s disappointing that hospitality venues and non-essential retail have been forced to close again, we’re also working hard to get grants out to businesses as quickly as possible. Despite the current difficulties, our priority remains the regeneration of our town centres. The world has changed dramatically over the last year, but High Streets were changing long before Coronavirus. Although Andover is fighting back. Not just because we have a higher percentage of independents than many other towns but because the council is investing money, time and effort in making our town centre fit for the future.

Last year we adopted a new masterplan. The first phase, to create a brand-new riverside park at Town Mills will be completed by the spring. Since purchasing the Chantry Centre, we’ve cut the service charge two years running and have a good record of encouraging more pop-up shops. We’re also working closely with Andover BID to put together an enhanced programme of town centre events for 2021, to increase footfall. So, when the restrictions are finally lifted, we can give our retailers the much needed boost they require.