MORE than 97 per cent of Andover residents feel they have not been “properly consulted” on plans for the new Andover Leisure Centre, according to recently released statistics.

The figures, from a survey launched by Andover town councillors Richard Rowles, Christopher Ecclestone and Richard Kidd, show just 12 out of 567 respondents felt adequately consulted about the proposals.

The other 555, nearly 98 per cent of all respondents, said they did not feel properly consulted about the plans for the new facility, submitted by incoming provider Places for People Leisure.

The week-long online survey, which began on March 7, also found 89 per cent of people disagreed with proposals to shut parts of the centre for up to two years while the new facility is built.

Meanwhile, almost 80 per cent of respondents said they disagreed with Test Valley Borough Council’s plans to spend around £800,000 on a temporary swimming pool in Andover to plug the gap left behind when the current pool closes on April 1.

Responding to the survey, councillor Rowles said: “The people of Andover finally have a voice on this issue, it’s very clear from this survey they feel they have not been consulted, and with 80 per cent against spending a shed load more of taxpayers’ money on a temporary pool.

“This survey cost practically nothing.

“It’ s quite clear some of the people we have elected at Test Valley Borough Council up to no w are just not doing their job.”

Test Valley Borough Council’ s community and leisure portfolio holder, councillor Tony Ward, has once again defended the leisure centre plans, while also questioning the validity of the survey.

He said: “It’s not surprising the response considering the questions that they have asked.

“With the consultation, it is difficult to explain to the public .

“If we had done a consultation it would have had to have taken place years ago before we started the tender process and those needs might not have been relevant now.

“I’ll be honest I’m not exactly sure how we would have even done a consultation.

“If we had told people we wanted to spend £20 million on new facilities but £16 million in Andover and £2 million in Romsey and we asked people across the borough what they thought, imagine what would the reaction be?”

“If you asked the public if they want an Olympic size swimming pool I know what the answer will be, but it might not be economically possible.”

Talking about the process used to select Places for People as the eventual leisure providers he added: “We consulted other councils beforehand and they all pointed us in the direction of the Sports England procedure.

“Once you’ve started the process you can’t have much consultation.

“You have to give broad ideas of what the council require and it is up to the bidders to submit a plan.

“For us we asked for significant investment in Andover as well as things like a greater pool capacity.

"With this process there is less consultation involved, but I really do believe the people in Andover are getting a fantastic facility.”

Councillor threatens to quit role

A CONTROVERSIAL councillor has vowed to sell his business and leave Andover “forever” if Test Valley Borough Council delays plans for the new Andover Leisure Centre.

Tough-talking Tony Hooke, who represents Andover South at Hampshire County Council, says he is so passionate about getting “proper consultation” with residents over the plans he is willing to leave the town “for good” to get it.

The 54-year-old, pictured, from Yateley, has described the decision about a new leisure centre as the most important in the town “in the last 50 years”.

And councillor Hooke claims he will do “all he can” to make sure Test Valley Borough Council “gets it right”.

This includes selling his business, Broadway Garage, standing down as a councillor and never coming back to Andover again.

He said: “Councillor Carr wants me gone from this town. If they stop this process now I will put my business on the market and I will be gone from this town and he will never hear from me again. I’m doing this because I believe so passionately about this.”

Councillor Hooke says he has been prompted into action because he believes proposals for the new centre, designed by incoming provider Places of People Leisure (PfP), are “woefully inadequate”.

He has also slammed Test Valley Borough Council for a lack of consultation with residents over the leisure centre, which is due to be built on the same site as the current West Street facility.

Councillor Hooke is hoping his bold claim will now prompt TVBC to delay current plans by PfP to close the leisure centre pool on April 1.

He hopes residents can then be consulted on what they would like in their new leisure centre and create a facility Andover can be proud of “for the next 50 years”.

One way he believes this could happen is by having a full council meeting to discuss the current plans.

The proposals are due to go before the Northern Area Planning Committee meeting this Thursday, but councillor Hooke believes the decision should be made by all of the authority’s elected representatives.

However the council says its constitution requires planning applications to be decided by the Area Planning Committees.

TVBC’s decision to award PfP their new leisure contract, which included plans for the new leisure centre, was also previously approved by full council.

Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder, councillor Tony Ward, said: “At a time of budget cuts and austerity elsewhere, we are investing over £16 million in a major project as part of the borough council’s long term plans for the future vitality and benefit of the town.

“The current leisure centre is old, ranged over two buildings and has wasted space in corridors and the plant room for example. “The new centre will have bigger activity spaces – the water area is 30sqm larger, the sports hall is over 250sqm larger and the studios are 20sqm larger.

“It is a short term loss for a long term gain.

“It is a great disappointment that councillor Hooke views the huge improvements to our leisure and sporting facilities in such a negative way. I am satisfied that consultation on the leisure contract has already taken place and this enabled the council to make their decisions regarding the new provider and the plans for Andover Leisure Centre.

“We have a great many things to look forward to with the new Andover Leisure Centre and I would encourage councillor Hook to adopt a more positive frame of mind.”