News Archive - 2023

Flower business blooms following award of council business incentive grant A new Test Valley flower farm, Stockbridge Blooms, has received a business incentive grant of £750. Kate McGrane set up her flower farm as...December 18, 2023

Council secures £0.5M from Rural England Prosperity Fund Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has been awarded just over £500,000 of Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) money to support its rural communities...December 14, 2023

Duck and Tipple bar in Andover scoops council grant Duck and Tipple bar in Andover scoops council grant A new bar in Andover has been awarded a £1,200 Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley...December 13, 2023

Councillor community grant puts musical variety show centre stage A community musical variety show has taken centre stage thanks to a Test Valley Borough Councillor community grant of £250. Organised by Anton...December 11, 2023

Suite of free support to help Test Valley Businesses thrive Test Valley Borough Council has partnered with Hampshire-based business IncuHive, to give free, impartial advice to businesses within the Test Valley...December 7, 2023

New council partnership to help businesses tackle climate emergency Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is partnering with Hampshire-based business IncuHive, to support rural businesses in reducing their carbon emissions. With...December 5, 2023

New café opens at Ganger Farm Sports Park A great new café, ‘Charlie’s Cafe Romsey’, has opened in the lounge area at Ganger Farm Sports Park, to provide refreshments...December 5, 2023

Andover Music Club tunes up with £750 councillor community grant Andover Music Club is planning to bring classical music to a new audience thanks to a £750 councillor community grant from Test Valley Borough...December 4, 2023

Mayor's Christmas Address 2023 Over the last six months, the Mayoress and I have been privileged to meet so many wonderful people, from across the Test Valley and beyond.  ...December 4, 2023

Hampshire man ordered to pay over £4,000 for failing to help with fly-tipping investigation A man who failed to help with a fly-tipping investigation near North Baddesley has been ordered to pay more than £4,000. Carter Smith, from...December 4, 2023

Man ordered to pay over £1,000 after boxes of hand sanitiser left on Romsey farm A number of large boxes containing hand sanitiser that were dumped on a farm near Romsey have led to a man being fined and ordered to pay over £1,000. Test...November 28, 2023

Local custom computer keyboard design business awarded council grant Local product designer Thomas Beesley, of ‘Bees.Keys’, has been awarded a £750 business incentive grant by Test Valley Borough Council,...November 27, 2023

Beauty Salon boost thanks to Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council A new beauty salon in Andover has been awarded a £1,200 Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council. Amber Stewart set up her...November 21, 2023

ANDOVER WINS BIG: £18.3 million Levelling Up Funds awarded to TVBC for new theatre, cultural hub and accelerated town centre redevelopment Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has been awarded £18.3m from round three of the government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF), to build a multi-purpose...November 20, 2023

Council grant has sewing group sitting pretty A councillor community grant from Test Valley Borough Council has enabled a local sewing group to make their sessions more comfortable with a brand...November 16, 2023

Test Valley’s Big Band Buffet strikes the right notes! “Lovely people, lovely food and lovely music. I spoke to everyone on all the stalls so learned a lot, and everyone was so helpful, thank you.”...November 13, 2023

Start-up business awarded £750 grant Local dog care business Boardwalk in Barton Stacey have been awarded a £750 Business Incentive Grant from Test Valley Borough Council. Owner...November 9, 2023

Council grant helps provide art activities for families An arts charity in Andover that encourages community connection and possibilities through art has benefitted from a £500 councillor community...November 9, 2023

Watch live sculpting of new statue of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II The latest opportunity to see progress on the statues of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council, is coming up later...November 8, 2023

Test Valley Lettings holds open days for potential landlords Test Valley Lettings holds open days for potential landlords Test Valley Lettings is hosting two open days for new and existing landlords, on 16...November 8, 2023

Get a dose of winter wellness at Andover’s Wellbeing Fair Following the success of our first Wellbeing Festival in June, the Andover Wellbeing Fair will provide a space for selected local organisations to come...November 7, 2023

Covert camera catches fly-tipper in the act at Romsey hotspot A covert camera placed by Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) at a fly-tipping hotspot in Romsey has resulted in another conviction. Yevhen Topolnytskyy,...November 7, 2023

New regular Duathlon event launched at Ganger Farm Sports Park Ganger Farm Sports Park has launched a monthly duathlon event hosted by Swim Bike Run Local in partnership with British Triathlon. This great...November 6, 2023

Music, markets and magic will light up the town at the Andover Christmas Festival! Taking place on Friday 17 November, 4pm to 8pm, Test Valley Borough Council, InAndover from Andover BID and Andover Town Council have been wrapping...November 1, 2023

Remembrance Sunday parade returning to Andover Veterans, troops, a marching band and uniformed groups are set to take part in Andover’s Remembrance Sunday Parade to honour our servicemen and...October 27, 2023

A big thank you to our woodland volunteers A beautiful new bench has been unveiled in Valley Park Woodlands to recognise the hard work and dedication of the Friends of the Park volunteers, who’ve...October 25, 2023

This Halloween, head to Andover for terrifying trails, a devilish disco and painting in the dark!   Saturday 28 October will see the return of Andover’s Halloween town centre trail. From 11am to 3pm participants can collect an...October 18, 2023

Test Valley Borough Council looking for feedback on polling stations Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is undertaking a review of Polling Districts and Polling Places. The review will consider the suitability of existing...October 17, 2023

Local people find work at Romsey jobs fair A recent jobs fair was held in Romsey by Jobcentre Plus, in partnership with Test Valley Borough Council. Around 120 people attended, with over half...October 16, 2023

Patient care improved thanks to council funding Andover Health Hub is making patients’ lives easier thanks to a Councillor Community Grant from Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC). The Health...October 16, 2023

Men sentenced after household waste including a fridge dumped near Romsey Three men pleaded guilty after being caught dumping household waste on Lee Drove, near Romsey. A covert trail camera caught David Hill, 69 of Southampton,...October 13, 2023

Artists wanted for public art opportunities in Test Valley Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) are looking to commission artists for a number of public art opportunities coming up across the borough. The first...October 9, 2023

Park up in Andover for the next Multistorey Boot Sale! Andover’s Multistorey Boot Sale will be back on floors 4 and 4a of the Chantry Centre car park this month. Opening on Sunday 15 October between...October 4, 2023

New shop the Fig and Fox in Romsey awarded a business incentive grant from Test Valley Borough Council Fig and Fox opened in October 2022, selling independently crafted and ethically sourced household goods, houseplants, gifts, local food and drink, along...October 2, 2023

Popular Big Band Buffet returns to Stockbridge in November The popular free event got national recognition in 2022 for its positive impact in reducing anti-social behaviour and promoting community confidence,...September 27, 2023

Local park tennis courts in Andover and Romsey set for renovation Test Valley Borough Council and the LTA agree partnership to breathe new life into local park tennis courts in Andover and Romsey. The project...September 26, 2023

Nearly £2,500 handed out in fines after fly-tipping incidents across Test Valley During a routine visit by a Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) officer to a site near Broughton, on 24 November 2022, a large pile of garden waste was...September 19, 2023

Copse at Bury Hill named in memory of Queen Elizabeth II The copse area has been officially named Queen Elizabeth Memorial Copse, as a tribute to Her Majesty and the number of important connections she has...September 8, 2023

Ukrainian beauty salon given boost after receiving Business Incentive Grant from Council Ukrainian beauty salon given boost after receiving Business Incentive Grant from Council A Ukrainian beauty salon in Andover has been handed a £750...September 5, 2023

Celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day in Test Valley The event is taking place at Romsey Town Hall, starting at 5:30pm, and is open to anyone across the borough. The celebrations will start with complimentary...August 21, 2023

Council Leader Phil North and Natural England visit pollution reduction projects at Roke Manor Farm The location of the visit was the farm, near Romsey, where leading work is being undertaken to reduce polluting nitrates in the soil, by planting and...August 17, 2023

New hair salon scoops an Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council A new hair salon, ‘Willow and Rose Hair Lounge’ has scooped a £1,200 Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council. Emily...August 15, 2023

Residents invited to put their stamp on a royal statue this Sunday! Local sculptor and portrait artist, Amy Goodman, was commissioned to create two life-size sculptures of Queen Elizabeth II as part of the Platinum Jubilee...August 9, 2023

Council generates over £1.6M in additional income thanks to prudent property investments Through ‘Project Enterprise’, the Council has been developing and enhancing its own property portfolio, and making purchases of investment...August 8, 2023

Primary schools across the borough learn about invertebrates residing in local nature reserves The school children enjoyed an interactive experience learning to identify a variety of invertebrates that live in our lakes at the nature reserves,...August 3, 2023

Focus on Life Skills students perform at Andover College, thanks to grant from Test Valley Borough Council A special adaptation of ‘Grease’, performed by students with complex needs, took place at Andover College, thanks to a Councillor Community...August 1, 2023

A month of family fun awaits this August! Organised by Test Valley Borough Council, these free events will give families the chance to head to the town and immerse themselves in a colourful...July 27, 2023

Perch, picnic and play at Andover’s NEW parklet! The temporary installation will be constructed and managed by Unity Art Studio, following an opportunity offered by Test Valley Borough Council for...July 26, 2023

Public urged to have their say as council launches consultation on Charlton Lakeside and Sports Centre The council, alongside Charlton Parish Council and Places Leisure, want to better understand the needs and requirements of the whole of the site, including...July 25, 2023

Three Test Valley parks awarded coveted Green Flag Award The news that these sites have achieved the accreditation again, which they have now held for over 10 years, is testament to the hard work and dedication...July 18, 2023

Dust off your deck chairs for Andover’s Step into Summer event! Test Valley Borough Council has partnered with InAndover from Andover BID to expand this year’s event, which will take place on Saturday 22 July...July 17, 2023

New Andover store collects first Independent Retailer Grant from Test Valley Borough Council ‘Collecteebles’ moved into the Chantry Centre at the end of 2022 after trading for two years online. Owner, Curtis Tee, applied for an...July 11, 2023

Test Valley Borough Council acts swiftly to protect Andover street art The work, which depicts a policeman interacting with a teddy bear, appears to be done by an artist known as ‘Hendog’, whose style is similar...July 10, 2023

Andover residents invited to celebrate Test Valley Freedom Parade Service personnel from 22 Engineer Regiment and the Tidworth Army Band will exercise the Freedom of Test Valley in a special display of ceremony and...July 4, 2023

A New Green Haven for Test Valley Communities The site, once an arable field, has transformed into a beautiful wildflower meadow featuring mown paths and benches for visitors to enjoy, providing...June 30, 2023

Test Valley residents help form council’s new four-year plan The plan for 2023 - 2027 will play a key part in determining decision-making, laying out the council’s vision, values, priorities and place-based...June 29, 2023

Cycle-powered cinema whizzing its way to Andover! As part of Andover Cycling Festival, Test Valley Borough Council has organised a giant cinema screen to pop up in Vigo Park on Saturday 29 July and...June 23, 2023

Abbotswood man fined after collecting scrap metal without a licence On 9 February 2023, a Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) officer became aware of a Ford Tipper truck which was heavily loaded with metal. With the...June 22, 2023

Council slashing carbon fuel emissions by up to 95 percent by switching vehicles to diesel alternative HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that benefits from an instant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without the need for changes to engine infrastructure...June 15, 2023

Council secures funding for Andover town centre heat feasibility study It means that a review can be carried out to see whether there is potential for a centrally sourced heat network in the town centre. Heat networks...June 12, 2023

Get to feel good at Andover’s NEW Wellbeing Festival! Taking place on Sunday 25 June 10am to 2pm, the festival is one of the new town centre events being organised by Test Valley Borough Council for 2023. ...June 12, 2023

Test Valley appoints new Mayor Councillor Lashbrook, who represents the Bellinger ward on Test Valley Borough Council, will be supported by the Mayoress, Councillor Linda Lashbrook...June 2, 2023

Discover the car boot sale with a difference in Andover Taking place across the fourth and fifth floors of the Chantry Centre multistorey car park, this elevated event will make use of an unusual location...May 31, 2023

Man ordered to pay nearly £2,000 after being caught fly-tipping in broad daylight by covert camera On 29 September 2022, a hidden camera captured footage of a man removing garden waste from his vehicle and dumping it in a layby. The camera had been...May 24, 2023

Council and community groups join forces to develop Community Energy Projects across Test Valley Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is launching an exciting new programme to promote and develop community energy projects across the Test Valley as...May 19, 2023

99.8% of voters in Test Valley brought ID to the polling station for local elections Figures show that across Test Valley Borough Council, 21,789 electors voted in person at our 95 polling stations on 4 May 2023. By the end of polling...May 17, 2023

Council Joins No Mow May to support pollinators As part of our commitment to create a sustainable, environmentally-friendly borough, we have mapped out a number of green spaces and banks of urban...April 26, 2023

Failing to assist with fly-tipping investigation leads to man being ordered to pay nearly £2,000 In June 2022, Test Valley Borough Council received multiple reports of a large fly-tip, which included a number of plastic bags containing household...April 26, 2023

Andover’s flourishing Gardening Fair set to return to the High Street in May Between 10am to 3pm, Andover residents can look forward to a day full of outdoor activities provided by InAndover from Andover BID and Test Valley Borough...April 19, 2023

Woman fined after large fly-tip, including laptop, guitar and old game console, found in Thruxton On 7 December 2022, Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) received reports that rubbish had been dumped at Thruxton Racing Circuit. The waste consisted...April 4, 2023

TVBC secures funding to further commitment to making council-owned buildings carbon neutral The authority has been awarded up £221,871, which will help to further its commitment to ensuring council owned and occupied buildings will be...March 23, 2023

Borough council’s grant scheme brings community together with Chilbolton Warm Hub Lunch Club. The Chilbolton Warm Hub Lunch Club is open to all residents and provides and great opportunity to socialise and connect with others in the community....March 21, 2023

Jump down the rabbit hole to join Alice’s Adventures in Andover next month! Families can join Alice in a world of playful, immersive nonsense that is both delightful and mad as enchanting characters from the well-loved children’s...March 20, 2023

Good times, giggles, and gasps to be had at The Lights, new spring summer season brochure is here! It’s an exciting time for the people of Andover and surrounding areas, with an array of talent raring to go this spring-summer season. The cultural...March 16, 2023

Council going green to keep the streets clean! The quieter, better-performing new machines will be replacing the Council’s existing fleet of diesel pedestrian ones. The new sweepers are...March 16, 2023

Test Valley Borough Council grant hits all the right notes for new Andover bar and music venue The ARK Bar, on London Street, has been awarded an Independent Retailer Grant, following the opening of the premises at the end of 2022. The venue...March 15, 2023

Failure to help with fly-tipping investigation lands man in court In January 2020, TVBC received reports of a large fly-tip on Foxes Lane, Wellow. The waste consisted of carpets, a divan bed, a fridge, construction...March 14, 2023

Importance of the dormouse in Picket Piece marked with new public art Extremely elusive, and increasingly rare, the hazel dormouse favours woodland and hedgerow habitats, which are characteristic of the area. As a protected...March 13, 2023

Council calls for participants to join NEW Andover Wellbeing Festival Taking place on Sunday 25 June, the festival will provide an opportunity for local residents to discover new ideas and activities to promote a healthy...March 13, 2023

Second Sundays set to return to Andover High Street this month! Between 10am to 3pm visitors can look forward to a lively atmosphere as Second Sundays will fill the High Street with music, craft workshops, design-makers...March 8, 2023

Second Sundays set to return to Andover High Street this month! Between 10am to 3pm visitors can look forward to a lively atmosphere as Second Sundays will fill the High Street with music, craft workshops, design-makers...March 8, 2023

Test Valley residents struggling to meet housing costs urged to apply for Household Support Fund One-off payments of £125 per household are available, for those who can show they are struggling to meet their housing costs and may be in arrears. ...March 8, 2023

Andover set to be buzzing with family-friendly events in 2023 Throughout 2023 Test Valley Borough Council, along with other local organisations and event organisers, will deliver an exciting set of events for residents...March 7, 2023

Local football club awarded £500 Councillor Community Grant The grant will be used to purchase new footballs in various sizes to ensure that the club’s players have access to the best possible training...March 1, 2023

Man sentenced after fly-tipping dismantled bed in Nursling “so someone else could use it” Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) officers received a report of a fly-tip on 24 August 2022 on Station Road in Nursling, which consisted of the wood...February 27, 2023

Flexible working space brings two new organisations to the Chantry Centre The Ugly Duckling project and The Andover Studio have now moved onto the fifth floor of Chantry House, which is owned by Test Valley Borough Council...February 24, 2023

Council approves £6.5M to deliver next major masterplan project for Andover At a full council meeting yesterday evening (Thursday 23 February), members approved the money to transform the area, which will see the creation of...February 24, 2023

The Chantry Centre indoor market is back open next month! Products on offer will include beautiful hand-painted bottles, 3D printed and laser cut gifts as well as a big selection of toys. Visitors can browse...February 23, 2023

Special Test Valley events to mark one year since invasion of Ukraine The Guildhall in Andover will be lit up yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, all weekend, while the flag will be flown there and at all...February 21, 2023

Apply for council grant and throw a coronation party fit for a king Test Valley Borough Council is encouraging residents to come together to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and the Queen Consort...February 9, 2023

Council supports ‘dream job’ Last year, after taking voluntary redundancy, Laura Tengrove decided on a career change and launched her own dog boarding and day care business, Trendy...February 7, 2023

Council approves £500k funding for local community projects Councillors backed a report at a meeting on Wednesday 25 January to award the money from the authority’s Community Projects Reserve (CPR).  The...February 2, 2023

Dumped wooden crate near Romsey leads to man being ordered to pay nearly £2k On 18 May 2022, Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) received a report from a resident who had witnessed a fly-tip on Station Road. Following a DVLA...February 2, 2023

Boost for Andover woman as new interior design business receives grant from Test Valley Borough Council Maria Marin received a Business Incentive Grant for her company ‘Irresistible Room’, which specialises in offering virtual interior design...February 2, 2023

Council unlocks £1M to deliver major projects across borough Test Valley Borough Council has unlocked £1M from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help local partner organisations...January 31, 2023

Andover Chantry Centre transformed into cultural hub to celebrate group launch and exhibition There was hair braiding, henna, the opportunity to try on Sari’s and plenty of food to try, with the public able to join members of the group,...January 27, 2023

Warning for residents to check who’s removing their waste after woman sentenced for fly-tipping incident in West Wellow On 28 February 2022, TVBC received a report about a large waste deposit on the rural lane near Romsey. It contained wardrobe doors, wood, broken...January 27, 2023

Man sentenced for fly-tipping in North Baddesley after mispricing waste clearance job George Dibden, 29, of Parkside in Totton, was given three months in custody, to be served concurrently with a previous 38-month sentence for an unrelated...January 24, 2023

Voter ID set to come in later this year as residents urged to make sure they’re prepared By law, from 4 May 2023, all residents will need to show photographic ID when they go to a polling station before they receive their ballot paper. The...January 23, 2023

Council ploughing ahead with regeneration plans despite funding disappointment The authority submitted a bid for £20.3 million last summer to help accelerate the redevelopment of the town, extending the riverside park along...January 19, 2023

Score an evening with Matt Le Tissier at The Lights! Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Alan Dowden, has organised the event, which will run from 7.30pm to 10pm, to boost funds for his mayoral charities...January 19, 2023

Test Valley residents over 66 urged to come forward for Winter Fuel Payment help if they need it Towards the end of 2022, Test Valley Borough Council, Unity and Citizens Advice Test Valley launched a scheme where anyone who receives a Winter Fuel...January 18, 2023

Diversity and culture being championed at new Faces and Places of Andover exhibition The Faces and Places of Andover exhibition launched on 12 January and is in the Unity Art Studios until 28 January. This Saturday (21 January) the...January 18, 2023

Man ordered to pay £1k after fly-tipping cardboard and wooden pallets in Chilworth Ionut Codreanau, 28, of Byron Road, was invited to an interview under caution after items including cardboard boxes and wooden pallets were found dumped...January 18, 2023

Man ordered to pay £2k for failing to help with fly-tipping investigation On 5 April 2022, TVBC received a report from an eyewitness who had seen a vehicle fly-tipping large chunks of soil and turf at Castle Lane, North...January 16, 2023

Man ordered to pay nearly £700 for fly-tipping broken vehicle part at property near Lockerley Sergio Dias De Oliviera, 47, of Nelson Road, was working as an Amazon delivery driver on 12 September 2021 when he was captured on CCTV removing waste...January 12, 2023

New Andover Health Hub pilot paves the way for town centre NHS services The unit closed just before Christmas, and since then Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) and colleagues from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated...January 9, 2023

More organisations set to benefit as Test Valley Borough Council’s Cost of Living Grant scheme increases to £100,000 Originally launched with £50,000, the local authority now has an additional £50,000 to distribute to groups, not -for-profit organisations...January 4, 2023