50 lift breakdowns at Andover’s Chantry Centre Since 2019

The FOI request revealed that lifts in the Chantry Centre multi-storey car park have broken down 43 times over the past six years.

Meanwhile, the lifts inside Chantry House, which is also used by the public and for council services, have broken down a further seven times during the same period.

The findings follow years of concerns raised by residents and visitors about the reliability of the lifts, particularly those used by disabled people, older residents, and parents with pushchairs.

Tony Wand, 63, a regular user of the Chantry Centre multi-storey car park, said the ongoing problems were frustrating.

The lifts inside the Chantry Centre's Chantry House (Image: Daniel Quina Brito)

He said: "It’s a major inconvenience to anyone who needs the lifts,” he said. “For disabled people, it can be a real issue. There is disabled parking on the lower floor, so sometimes it’s less of a problem, but that’s not always the case.

“I see kids playing in those lifts, taking the stickers with the service information, and I’m sure that doesn’t help. I don’t think it’s the children’s fault, but if the council spent some money on getting them a youth centre, then there would be fewer incidents of this kind.

"When I was younger, there were youth centres available which made me feel good about myself, so I didn’t cause problems outside.”

Laurien Griffiths, an Andover resident and co-owner of Go’Fudge on Andover High Street, said she tends to avoid the Chantry Centre multi-storey car park.

“I prefer to use other car parks like George Yard or the ones around the town centre,” she said. “I’ve never liked the multi-storey as there are too many bollards to get stuck on.

“It has been repaired, but I don’t think it’s affecting business, as disabled people tend to use the other car parks,” she added. “But that many lift breakdowns is a lot, and I would hate to be the person stuck in there if it happens.”

Earlier in 2025, the Advertiser reported on several occasions that the lifts were out of action for prolonged periods. Notices placed on lift doors warned users that repairs were ongoing, with limited alternative access available.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on October 21, 2025, when a man using a mobility scooter was trapped inside one of the lifts for several hours.

Temple Lifts, the maintenance contractor at the time, did not attend the scene. Test Valley Borough Council contacted Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, which freed the man.

Following ongoing issues and public concern, the Advertiser reported on January 2 that Test Valley Borough Council had entered into a new partnership with Stannah Lifts.

Under the agreement, the local firm will provide lift maintenance services across six council-owned sites, including the Chantry Centre.

A spokesperson for Test Valley Borough Council said the figures should be considered in context, describing the break down incidents as "relatively low".

“The Chantry Centre lifts are in frequent use, and when averaged out over multiple lifts over several years, the number of breakdowns is relatively low,” the spokesperson said. “That said, we work hard to make sure our facilities are well maintained and accessible.

Chantry Centre multi-storey car park in Andover (Image: Charles Elliman)

“We are pleased that just before Christmas, we announced that we had joined forces with renowned local firm, Stannah Lifts, to look after our lifts going forward. This partnership puts us in a good position to identify potential problems in advance and ensure a speedy response if any issues arise.”

Councillor Phil North, leader of Test Valley Borough Council, has also welcomed the new arrangement.

“We’re delighted to be working with Stannah Lifts to ensure our lifts operate efficiently,” he said. “This new partnership with a renowned local firm means we will be in a good position to identify problems before they arise and respond much more quickly when there are any issues. This will help us to provide the best service and ensure issue-free access to our buildings.”

Temple Lifts, the company responsible for maintaining the lifts during the period covered by the FOI request, was contacted for comment. A spokesperson said the company was aware of the situation but declined to comment further.