Fears Grows Over New Disco Plan

“Colditz” type security precautions costing an estimated “£29,000 – with floodlights, fencing and closed circuit television – would have to be considered at a nearby Andover factory if plans to re-site Andover’s Country Bumpkin entertainment centre are approved.

And a youth worker in the town described the Bumpkin as:
”an undesirable amenity adversely affecting the moral welfare of Andover’s youth”
and voices the opinion that it should not be allowed “anywhere within the town’s limits”.
These two objections are among those received by the Test Valley planning department to two applications for planning permission for the “new” Country Bumpkin to be established on a site near Enham Arch in Newbury Road.
One application is to change the use of the Jehovah’s Witness Hall into an entertainments centre, and the other to change the former joinery factory there into a similar building.

The application will be considered by the Northern Area planning sub-committee at their meeting in Andover next Thursday.
Anton Promotions Ltd, owners of the Country Bumpkin – which burned down in September – say, ideally, they would like both applications approved.
This would enable them to develop “something more than a Country Bumpkin” – an entertainment centre comprising dancing/disco, snooker hall, conference and reception rooms and a bowling alley.
Their application comes at a time when a 1,500 strong petitions is to be lodged by the youth of Andover complaining at the lack of facilities for youngsters in the town.

Seventeen members of the congregation of Jehovah’s Witness in Andover have sent letters to the council saying that their meetings would be adversely affected if the Country Bumpkin was established in the old joinery factory next door.
But if the Witness could move to alternative premises they would not object to the development at Enham Arch.

The basis of the objections lodged by the two factories to the north of Enham Arch – AMF Legg and Spembley’s – is that the Country Bumpkin would give rise to “problems of violence and vandalism” which would pose a serious threat to the security of their buildings.
Leggs say it would cost them £29,000 for additional security measures.
Objections received also point to traffic problems connected with the access on to Newbury Road.

Anton Promotions, however, have asked the planning committee to give them an indication of their views.
With all the financial implications involved they say they cannot advance their plans without knowing if planning permission was likely to be forthcoming.

(The above article appeared in the Evening Echo - By Bert Earney)

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

23.03.2009. 21:30

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