Disco Club Land Deal Anger

ANDOVER Chamber of Trade is upset over a land deal worked out between Test Valley council and the owners of the burnt-out Country Bumpkin disco club.
The council have agreed to give Anton Promotions 2.18 acres of land at Enham Arch – on which they will rebuild the club – in exchange for the East Street site of the Country Bumpkin.

Details of the deal will be discussed by the council’s policy and resources committee on Wednesday night.
A report reveals that Jehovah Witness have also accepted an offer from Anton Promotions for the sale of their meeting hall at Enham Arch.
The club was destroyed by fire last October and residents living in the vicinity have protested against any move to rebuild it on the same site.

But two Enham Arch firms, AMF Legg and Spembly – backed by the industrial group of the Chambers of Trade – strenuously oppose rebuilding near their premises.
They say they are concerned at the possibility of damage to their properties and claim that the present roads will not be able to cope with the increase flow of traffic.
A statement by the industrial group said that the land deal “did not come as a surprise”.

“It appeared all the way through that the council officers had made up their minds to relocate the Country Bumpkin and did not wish to be confused by the facts”.
“At the end of the day the companies may have to seek planning permission to erect security fencing around the pleasant open-plan frontage of their buildings – and the council will be reminded of the cost involved”.

One of the recommendations to be considered by the committee is that part of the council owned land on a site at junction of River way and Newbury Road be sold to Jehovah Witness for a new meeting place.

(The above article appeared in the Andover Advertiser - By John Anderson)

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

23.04.2009. 08:33

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