A NEW town centre manager has been officially appointed in Andover.

Chris Gregory took up his role on Thursday, 12 June, meeting townspeople and business owners while on duty.

The aim of the new role is to help boost business in the town, while supporting shopkeepers and putting in place initiatives to increase footfall.

Chris, who has been appointed for 22 hours a week, said about Andover: “We need to get more vibrancy, more footfall, to get more people into Andover, to make sure that all the businesses perform better to boost business.”

Chris wants to form a town centre partnership with businesses to encourage more events in the town, making it an attractive place to visit.

He said: “We need businesses and residents to get behind the town a bit more.

“I am not saying that they don’t at the moment but we need to do better and take the plan forward.”

Chris has been working in town centre management for the past 15 years, with experience in Solihull, Walsall and Stratford-upon-Avon.

The town centre manager plans to spend at least two full days a week in Andover.

He said: “I need businesses to support the things we do to whatever extent that they want to. It’s only with everybody coming together that we will get the results that we need.”