High streets across the country continue to struggle in a testing retail climate, but will that defeat the Andover High Street?

Over the past 10 years shoppers have deserted the high streets with the footfall in Andover town centre dropping by more than 300,000 in the last six years.

One of our reporters took to the streets of Andover to find out how the public feel about the town's high street.

Anna Paul describes herself as a "proper Andovarian" born and raised in Andover which used to be "bustling when [she] was a kid."

She said: "These rental rates are killing the high street, they're just too high. If big businesses like these cant afford to stay open then there's no hope for independent businesses."

"In 10 to 15 years its going to become even more of a ghost town, coffee shops are the only thing left surviving so I make a conscious effort to support my town centre."

Cupcake business owner, Beverley Power, rents two stores in Andover, one on the High Street and another inside the Chantry Centre. 

Basingstoke Gazette: Beverley Power has owned her bakery business for seven years.Beverley Power has owned her bakery business for seven years.

She believes the reason why coffee shops are so popular is because "you can't buy coffee online, just like you can't get you hair cut or your nails done over the internet - that's why you see so many of them."

The 37 year-old added: "A lot of people think that the council aren't doing anything to help the town stay in business but they have been really supportive to us. Slowly but surely they are going to regenerate the town."

Market stall owner, Sukhdew Dhaliwal, from Reading said is not a new problem and has witnissed this happen to lots of towns over the years. 

"It's a nationwide problem" he said, "There isn't a level playing field with online stores and high street shops the rent costs a fortune whereas businesses like Amazon get away with paying minimum tax because it's all online."

Retired university specialist, Martin Hill, noted it was shocking to see so many empty shops in the town centre adding "it's really disappointing to see."

He said: "I make a point of never buying anything online, I had one business steal £1,400 from me so I just don't trust it anymore."

Basingstoke Gazette: Many shops in Andover have closed due to high rental prices. Many shops in Andover have closed due to high rental prices.

One businesswoman who works in Andover suggested introducing more pop-up shops into the town to add more interest back into the shopping centre. 

She said: "If you changed them every few weeks then the businesses would gain a larger turnover whilst exposing the community to more exclusive items that they can only buy for a limited time."

Do you think independent shops will return to Andover or will the council repurpose the centre for new innovative developments?