Time to solve Andover's A-board problem

Prospective parliamentary candidate Alex Payton has backed Andover Liberal Democrats in calling on county councillors to start working with each other to solve the problem of A-boards in Andover town centre. The issue has dominated headlines in the local papers and social media sites for several weeks with rival groups trading insults and blaming each other for a failure to find a solution to the problem. Following complaints (some allegedly politically motivated) the county council acted by writing to local businesses advising that advertising A-boards should not obstruct the highways. Any that did so should be removed or the county council would take action.

Alex Payton says "adequate and appropriate advertising is essential for businesses especially small businesses. These boards have been used effectively in Andover and elsewhere for many years and should be permitted. We actively support local businesses and will do what we can to make sure they are promoted as widely as possible. But there must be controls so that advertising isn't an inconvenience to others. Any solution must not block the highway or cause a hazard for disabled or visually impaired people."

St Mary's Lib Dem councillors Katherine Bird and Nigel Long added "We are working with TVBC, local businesses and the town centre manager to implement a constructive, reasonable solution as soon as is possible. As a result of Katherine's suggestion at the town summit meetings there is now funding available for a major project to both enhance the town centre and improve visibility of all local businesses. We hope the county councillors will stop point scoring and support us on this."