THE town council is planning to install new outdoor seating around the town in the coming months.

At a meeting of the full council on Wednesday, August 10, Cllr David Coole put forward a motion which would see a working group of councillors set up, which would liaise with the borough council and public on how the seating in Andover could be effectively added to.

The proposal, seconded by Cllr Rebecca Meyer, also suggested £20,000 be set aside for this purpose.

However, some concerns were raised by other councillors.

Cllr Luigi Gregori asked Cllr Coole to confirm there is no "deal" between him and Test Valley Borough Council leader Phil North with regard to this, which he said there was not.

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Cllr Gregori added that the provision of seating from the county and borough councils is "very poor" and "shameful" given the additional Andover levy.

He said: "Test Valley gouges the citizens of Andover the same amount of tax that the whole of Andover parish consumes and what do they provide? Nothing! They use that to pump up their finances and keep the rates down in other parts of Test Valley."

Cllr Richard Rowles added: "I think the £20,000 should be spent on people not bricks and bridges. People are going to be more worried about food and how they are going to pay their energy bill and less worried about if there is a nice iron bench in the park."

However, other councillors supported the motion.

Cllr Christopher Ecclestone said: "The town council has fallen down in its obligation to provide decent benches for people to sit on. I would be very happy in years to come to say my legacy was somewhere where an elderly person can sit as they traverse the streets of Andover without having to struggle on."

Cllr Nicholas Asamoah added: "Clearly more benches are needed in our community. It doesn't matter whether the borough council or town council provide it. Certain parties and certain groups always try to make it about politics, and this is about community.

"I think if you vote against this you are voting against something good for Andover."

Cllr Robin Hughes proposed to remove the point about a £20,000 budget at this stage, and only vote on setting up of a working group.

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This was seconded by Cllr Gregori, and passed with six for and four against. The newly amended motion was unanimously accepted.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr David Coole said: “I am delighted this motion was approved by the council and that we can now work with the borough council and start delivering much needed public open space furniture across Andover.

“I hope this is just the beginning of the town council working collaboratively and positively with the borough council, to deliver projects and activities that will help improve the wealth, health and wellbeing of Andover residents, businesses and visitors alike.”