Cost of living support
We know people in Test Valley are facing rising goods and energy prices, inflation and cost of living pressures. Our website details services and support that you can access.
Sustainable Warmth
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Free Government-funded grants through Sustainable Warmth are available to both homeowners and private tenants with a household income of less than £30,000 or who are in receipt of an income related means tested benefit. The grants are designed to support those households most impacted by rising energy bills.
Please share this information and residents can check if they are eligible by clicking the button below.
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Man fined for littering
A man has been ordered to pay more than £500 after he was caught throwing a cigarette butt out of his car in George Yard car park in Andover earlier this year.
Sam Murphy of Churchill Place, Basingstoke, was spotted littering on 30 May by one of our officers. He was later tracked down following a DVLA search.
We issued a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice, which he failed to pay within the statutory 14 days, and so we took him to court.
At a hearing at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on 11 October, the defendant was ordered to pay a £150 fine, £60 victim surcharge and £300 costs.
Not keen on Halloween?
Every year Hampshire Constabulary receives calls from dozens of people who have been frightened by trick or treaters. It might seem like innocent fun, but it can be terrifying for elderly or vulnerable people.
Click below for some helpful advice from Hampshire Constabulary, and for a printable poster.
The Mayor of Test Valley, councillor Alan Dowden was at the start line for the Boaz Fun Run at Hill Farm near Sutton Scotney, on Saturday 8 October.
The event was a chance for people to get together, enjoy the sunshine and raise money for the Boaz Project, which is an inclusive, farm-based charity set up to provide a brighter future for people with learning disabilities and autism.
Participants took part in 2k, 5k and 10k fun runs, all dressed as a range of colourful characters, from donkeys to a flock of chickens and an archbishop. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities enjoyed the spectacular Test Valley countryside views out on the trails and received wooden eco-medals at the finish line.
The Boaz project has a 4.5-acre smallholding run on organic principles, producing high quality fruit, vegetables and flowers. Members work alongside volunteers and staff growing plants and taking care of the animals, including sheep, donkeys, guinea pigs and a flock of 120 free range egg-laying hens.
Mayor of Test Valley, councillor Alan Downden and mayoress councillor Celia Dowden pictured with Pippa and friends
Pippa Lyons, 10, from North Baddesley Junior School was selected as the winner of a competition to send a Platinum Jubilee card to Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth on behalf of the mayor.
Entries came in to the council from children and schools all over the borough after the competition was launched earlier this year. The winning entry was made into a card and sent in June to Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth on behalf of the mayor and residents of Test Valley.
Pippa and two friends were invited to the mayor's parlour for tea and cake, where he read aloud a letter from Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth's private office thanking him for the card designed by Pippa.
Mayor of Test Valley, councillor Alan Dowden said: "These youngsters are a credit to their parents and the North Baddesley Junior School.
"I hope one day they become local heroes and work to look after their community."
The council has scooped best All-Round Small Business Friendly council for the south central region at the Federation of Small Businesses Local Government Awards on Friday 14 October.
During the virtual event, the FSB praised the council for the speed in which it delivered the national lockdown grant schemes and the Additional Restrictions Grant. It also noted the authority’s support for start-ups and small medium enterprises, which has seen the council distribute 52 start-up grants to a value of £37,500 between March 2020 and March 2022, which in the past has meant that business survival rates have exceeded the national average.
In addition, TVBC awarded 43 Andover Skills Training Fund grants between March 2020 and March 2022, totalling £42,192, and worked with the Department for Work and Pensions and three neighbouring local authorities to deliver a Youth Employment Hub initiative to support 16 to 24-year-olds into education, training or employment.
The FSB also highlighted the council’s small grant offer to support town centres, with its Independent Retailer Grant increasing to £1,200 in 2021, and its decision to implement more flexible rules to enable pop-up shops in Andover’s Chantry Centre to apply.
They also commended the council’s work to support Romsey town centre and the University of Southampton Science Park Catalyst business accelerator programme, as well as their work alongside the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership to help businesses to start their journey to net zero.
Councillor Phil North said: “I want to say a huge thank you to the FSB and all the councillors and council officers who have worked so hard to achieve this. Times are tough for so many businesses at the moment, and it is critical that we continue to do everything we can to protect them.
“I am incredibly proud that the FSB has recognised the hard work we have put in to achieve this, and I am also unbelievably proud of the many amazing businesses that call Test Valley home. We have huge ambitions for our town centres, with the regeneration plans to transform Andover and Romsey continuing to progress, making it a fantastic borough for people to start and grow their businesses.”
FSB Development Manager for Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight, Nicky Kildunne, added: “I’m delighted to see Test Valley Borough Council recognised as the south central area’s most All-Round Small Business Friendly council.
“Over the past challenging period Test Valley Borough Council has continued to provide all round business support, adapting and adding to its business offer to meet local need. It adapted its Economic Development Strategy (2019 – 2023) to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and as well as successfully delivering all the lockdown grants, it has continued to provide a comprehensive, all round business support offer. Its many activities have included strengthening support for start-ups, including distributing over 50 business start-up grants, increasing the Independent Retailer Grant, supporting the University of Southampton Science Park Catalyst business accelerator programme to enable high growth potential and working hard with all local businesses to help them become more sustainable and ultimately become net zero.”
 If you're a landlord in Test Valley, join us for our FREE landlords event next month!
On Tuesday 1st November from 6pm to 8.30pm, landlords can come together to learn more about our private rented initiatives scheme, Test Valley Lettings.
The event will be held at Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover SP10 3AJ. Refreshments will be available.
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