| Development Andover Airfield |
| The issue: |
I just wanted to say that we are very much in favour of the co-op distribution depot on the old airfield, as we were with the Tesco plan. Jobs are desperately needed in Andover. Hi tech companies arent interested in being here, if they were they would already be here in the empty units that are littering all the industrial estates. My husband is a lorry driver, a menial task in your eyes I know, but thats what he does. He drives to Basingstoke every day for work, and has done for the last 6 years. He did go into a driver agency once and was offered £7 an hour to work locally. We welcome a National Company who will pay National wages. Its time you started supporting the working people and not those who dont need a job and have nothing else better to do with their time than hinder progress.
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| Date Issue Raised: |
11 Sep 2009 |
| My response: |
Many thanks for the email via my website – it is enormously helpful to know what constituents think on issues that affect Andover.
Like you, I support the proposals for the Co-op to use part of the airfield. I believe it is a better deal than the Tesco one, as there will be less traffic, noise and pollution; and there will be scope for a variety of other job-creating opportunities on the rest of the site. This reduces the dependence of the town on one major employer.
I disagree with what you say about Andover; there are some hi-tech companies in the town, and I would like to see more. I believe that the Business Park concept for the airfield, which was part of the local plan, was right. In addition to jobs in distribution, we need to offer young people a wide range of opportunities in the industries of the future – pharmaceuticals, knowledge-based industries, research and development, information technology. Average wages in the town are well below those for the rest of the county and as the local MP I would like to see us catch up!
Best wishes, George Young
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Sir George Young Bt MP: Constituency and Parliamentary Website