Love Andover Observer February 11th

6 | NEWS
Thursday, February 11, 2021 01264 883100 www.loveandover.com
Pilot scheme
to create safer
and healthier
School Streets
A trial scheme to test how a healthier
environment for young people walking
and cycling to school can be practically
achieved by creating car-free areas at
the start and end of the school day has
been given the go-ahead by Hampshire
County Council.
Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy
Leader and Executive Member for
Economy, Transport and Environment
at Hampshire County Council, said:
“We have a unique opportunity here
to make the most of one of the positive
changes that has come about during this
past year, which is to encourage people
to continue walking and cycling for their
everyday journeys.
Schools and colleges across the
county have made great progress working
with the County Council’s travel
team over the years, devising ways and
routes to leave the car at home for the
school run which improve the physical
and mental wellbeing of young people
at the same time as improving air quality
and reducing congestion in our communities.
I am, therefore, very pleased to
support this trial of ‘School Streets’, creating
traffic-free areas at the beginning
and end of the school day with the aim
of encouraging more children to come
to school by foot, bike or scooter.”
The School Streets trial will involve
three schools, with engagement on
proposals scheduled to take place
before the end of March, ahead of a trial
day or week in July before the full trial
begins this Autumn. The trial will be
monitored, will include three ‘control’
schools and will include consideration
of COVID-19 on social distancing and
travel patterns as well as the impact on
the wider community.
The type of scheme for each of
the schools in the trial will depend on
location, and would include temporary
prohibition of motor vehicles, barriers
and trained volunteers. Engagement
with parents, the wider community and
local businesses will be carried out so
any issues can be addressed before any
trials begin.
Initial engagement on interest in
taking part in the trial has taken place
with schools already involved in School
Travel Planning improvements, such
as the Modeshift Stars accreditation,
where there is an access on a suitable
road, and where there are suitable
Park and Stride locations away from the
school.
Supermarket closes as doubt
is cast over coffee shop plans
AS the smaller of the two Sainsbury’s
stores in Andover closes its doors on
Bridge Street, plans for a new drivethru
Costa Coffee have been submitted
to Test Valley Borough Council.
The construction of the new drive
thru will be next to the petrol station
and McDonalds at the bottom of New
Street, on the junction of Watery Lane.
It will be the fourth Costa store in
town with others at Andover Business
Park, Andover bus Station and in the
high street.
The site is where car dealership
Monro’s Garage was once located.
Costa says that the new coffee shop
will create 18 jobs for the drive-thru
which will be open 7 days a week from
6:30am Mondays to Saturday and from
8:00am on Sundays.
The proposal for the new Costa could
still be ruled out, as an objection has
been made with concerns over a “danger
of tailbacks, causing excessive
traffic congestion.”
Tesco Extra in the Chantry Centre
closed in 2014. The Marks and Spencer
Food Hall closed in 2018.
Council tax support
remains unchanged
RESIDENTS will continue to receive
the same level of council tax support
after Test Valley Borough Councillors
voted to maintain the existing
scheme due to the impact of the
pandemic.
Council tax support provides a contribution
towards council tax bills for
households with a low income and
for those with limited savings who
cannot work. The amount awarded
by the authority can cover up to 100
percent of the amount owed.
Finance portfolio holder, councillor
Maureen Flood, said: “As well as the
impact on people’s health, the impact
of coronavirus on businesses and their
employees has caused many people
financial hardship. The council tax
support scheme offers vital help to
the most vulnerable members of our
community and this has never been
more important.”
Anyone who has a liability to pay
council tax in the UK can apply for
council tax support but entitlement
will depend on their family circumstances
and how much income and
capital they have.
More information about the council
tax support scheme and how to apply
is available at www.testvalley.gov.uk.
New Boss At Andover Bus Station
LOVEAND VER
Mark Jackson
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01264 883100
STAGECOACH South has
announced the appointment of a
new Operations Managers for Andover.
Mark Jackson started his new
management role in the town on the
1st February.
Mark is no stranger to Andover. A
local resident, he started his career
at the very depot he is set to manage
as a driver in 2001. His dedication
to the business soon earned
him a career progression as depot
Duty Controller, and, more recently,
Assistant Operations Manager for
Basingstoke.
Gordon Frost, Operations Director
said “I am extremely pleased
to congratulate Mark on his latest
promotion. Our operations managers
are at the heart of our business
and critical to the success of the
company. We’re committed to ensuring
that we provide real opportunities
for staff development and we’re
delighted Mark has grown within the
business and is continuing to further
his career and development with us.”