Chambers clash over Bumpkin Plan

Opposition to the Country Bumpkin site at Enham Arch from factories in the area was described as “slightly hysterical” by a spokesman for the developing firm, Anton Promotions.

Chairman of the Industrial Group of the local Chambers of Trade, Laurie Buckley, personnel manager at AMF Legg, one of the Newbury Road neighbours of the proposed new Bumpkin entertainment complex, is seeking support for his firms opposition to the plan.
Already, the retail section of the chamber has approved the move and the two groups seem to be on a collision course for a full chamber meeting in a week’s time.

Chamber president, George Roberts, said the opposing viewpoints would be put before the chambers and a vote taken on the chamber’s attitude to the proposed development.

Spembly LTD, whose general manager, Derek Tucker, did not want to comment, and Leggs are basing their objections on the possible vandalism of their premises and put the cost in the region of £30,000 to safeguard their premises.
In his plea for support from the industrialists, Mr Buckley points out that when British Vita was given permission to build on Walworth, Leggs, although not likely to be affected by the development, contributed £2,500 to the fighting fund and led the objection to a “successful conclusion.”

The chairman says that his canvass of the group is an effort to find out if he has the full support of the Industrial Group over the Country Bumpkin plan.
“Such support,” he says, “would enable me to call upon the chamber for total support and thus avoid repetition of the division and acrimony which existed when the British Vita chemical plant issue was raised some years ago”.

Anton Promotions’ spokesman denied that vandalism could be attributed solely to the Bumpkin.
“My view is that it is something which should not be necessarily laid at the door of entertainment places, it is a national thing.
If Leggs are going to oppose anything that is proposed for young people, then God help us for any plans.
“Here we just do not have the re-location of the Bumpkin, that is too narrow. We have a new concept for the town with excellent facilities, quite a different idea from the old Bumpkin. We still have a long way to go but there is support for us to go to Enham Arch.

“ I think the fears are misplaced and I am rather surprised at the slightly hysterical reaction to what one should regard as a stabilising business influence giving something for the young people to do.
Those people should be leading us."

(The above article appeared in the Andover Advertiser on the 2nd March 1984)

Special thanks to the archives of Lisa Fittall for the above article

15.04.2009. 08:31

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