Test Valley

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Test Valley
Borough and non-metropolitan district
Andover - High Street - geograph.org.uk - 2191677.jpg
Andover Town Centre
Test Valley UK locator map.svg
Test Valley shown within Hampshire
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South East England
Non-metropolitan county Hampshire
Status Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ Andover
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyTest Valley Borough Council
 •  MPs Kit Malthouse
Caroline Nokes
Area
 • Total242.3 sq mi (627.6 km2)
 • Rank57th (of 296)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total132,871
 • Rank181st (of 296)
 • Density550/sq mi (210/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
[1]
 •  Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
[1]
 •  Religion
List
Time zone UTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code 24UN (ONS)
E07000093 (GSS)
OS grid reference SU3560537973

Test Valley is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England, named after the valley of the River Test. The council is based in the borough's largest town of Andover. The borough also contains the town of Romsey and numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. A small part of the borough at its southern end lies within the New Forest National Park, and part of the borough north of Andover lies within the North Wessex Downs, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Contents

The neighbouring districts are Basingstoke and Deane, Winchester, Eastleigh, Southampton, New Forest, Wiltshire and West Berkshire.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the area of four former districts which were all abolished at the same time: [2]

The new district was named Test Valley after the River Test which flows through the area. [3] The district was awarded borough status on 22 October 1976, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor. [4]

Governance

Test Valley Borough Council
Test Valley Borough Council logo.svg
Type
Type
Leadership
Ian Jeffrey,
Conservative
since 22 May 2024 [5]
Phil North,
Conservative
since 10 May 2017
Andy Ferrier
since 15 June 2020 [6]
Structure
Seats43 councillors
Political groups
Administration (26)
  Conservative (26)
Opposition (17)
  Liberal Democrat (17)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
 4 May 2023
Next election
6 May 2027
Meeting place
Andover - Beach Hurst - geograph.org.uk - 1159990.jpg
Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, SP10 3AJ
Website
www.testvalley.gov.uk

Test Valley Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Hampshire County Council. The whole district is also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government. [7]

In the part of the borough within the New Forest National Park, town planning is the responsibility of the New Forest National Park Authority. The borough council appoints one of its councillors to serve on the 22-person National Park Authority. [8]

Political control

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 1999.

The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially acting as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements took effect on 1 April 1974. Political control since 1974 has been as follows: [9]

Party in controlYears
Independent 1974–1976
No overall control 1976–1979
Conservative 1979–1995
No overall control 1995–1999
Conservative 1999–present

Leadership

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Test Valley. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1980 have been: [10] [11]

CouncillorPartyFromToNotes
John Morgan Conservative 19801985
Roy Perry Conservative 19854 May 1994
Eileen Haselden Conservative 4 May 199417 May 1995
Eileen Haselden Conservative 17 May 199514 May 1997Joint leaders
Mark Cooper Liberal Democrats
Mark Cooper Liberal Democrats 14 May 19976 May 1998
Norman Arnell Conservative 6 May 199819 May 1999
Ian Carr Conservative 19 May 199910 May 2017
Phil North Conservative 10 May 2017

Composition

Following the 2023 election, the composition of the council was: [12]

PartyCouncillors
Conservative 26
Liberal Democrats 17
Total43

The next election is due in 2027.

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 43 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [13]

Premises

Andover Guildhall, one of the council's meeting places. Guildhall, High Street, Andover (NHLE Code 1236337) (July 2022) (3).JPG
Andover Guildhall, one of the council's meeting places.

The council has its main offices at Beech Hurst in Andover. The site had previously been a large house built in the 1850s, which had been purchased in 1947 by the old Andover Borough Council to use as its headquarters. The house continued to serve as offices for Test Valley after the new council's creation in 1974 until 1990 when it was demolished and replaced by a modern building on the same site, retaining the Beech Hurst name. [14] The council also maintains a smaller office at the former Magistrates' Court on Church Street in Romsey. [15] Full council meetings are held alternately at Andover Guildhall and at Crosfield Hall in Romsey. [10]

Geography

Test Valley covers some 250 square miles (650 km2) of western Hampshire, stretching from boundaries with Southampton in the south to near Newbury in the north. Test Valley is a predominantly rural area. It includes part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The River Test is the centrepiece of the Test Valley; the river is a chalk stream of particular beauty known for its fishing, salmon and trout, which Lord Crickhowell (onetime chairman of the National Rivers Authority) said "should be treated as a great work of art or music". Stockbridge is home of the Houghton Fishing Club, an exclusive fishing club founded in 1822, which meets in the Grosvenor Hotel.

Demographics

In December 2006, Sport England published a survey which revealed that residents of Test Valley were the 8th most active in England in sports and other fitness activities. 26.9% of the population participate at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes. [16]

In March 2012 Test Valley was ranked 14th best rural area to live out of 119 local authority areas in Great Britain by the Halifax. This was based on factors including employment and income levels, the weather, health and life expectancy, education, crime, broadband access and other things. [17] [18]

Towns and parishes

The whole borough is covered by civil parishes. The parish councils for Andover and Romsey have declared their parishes to be towns, allowing them to take the style "town council". Whilst Stockbridge is a post town it has a parish council rather than a town council. Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. The parishes of Frenchmoor and West Tytherley share a grouped parish council. [19]

Media

Television

The area is served by BBC South and ITV Meridian with television signals received from either Rowridge or Hannington TV transmitters. [20] [21]

Radio

Radio stations for the area are:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romsey</span> Town in Hampshire, England

Romsey is a town in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. The town is situated 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Southampton, 11 miles (18 km) southwest of Winchester and 17 miles (27 km) southeast of Salisbury. It sits on the outskirts of the New Forest, just over 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of its eastern edge. The population of Romsey was 14,768 at the 2011 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basingstoke and Deane</span> Borough and non-metropolitan district in England

Basingstoke and Deane is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. The main town is Basingstoke, where the council is based. The district also includes the towns of Tadley and Whitchurch, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas. The modern district was created in 1974, initially being called Basingstoke. It changed its name to "Basingstoke and Deane" in 1978 at the same time that it was made a borough; Deane was added to the name to represent the rural parts of the borough, being the area's smallest village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Eastleigh</span> Non-metropolitan borough and borough in England

The Borough of Eastleigh is a local government district with borough status in Hampshire, England. It is named after its main town of Eastleigh, where the council is based. The borough also contains the town of Hedge End along with several villages, many of which form part of the South Hampshire urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Winchester</span> Place in England

Winchester, or the City of Winchester, is a local government district with city status in Hampshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Forest District</span> Non-metropolitan district in England

New Forest is a local government district in Hampshire, England. Its council is based in Lyndhurst, although the largest town is Totton. The district also includes the towns of Fordingbridge, Lymington, New Milton and Ringwood. The district is named after and covers most of the New Forest National Park, which occupies much of the central part of the district. The main urban areas are around the periphery of the forest. The district has a coastline onto the Solent to the south and Southampton Water to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romsey (UK Parliament constituency)</span>

Romsey was a seat of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament 1983–2010 which accordingly elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. It is virtually tantamount to its replacement Romsey and Southampton North which takes in two typical-size local government wards of the United Kingdom named after and approximate to the Bassett and Swaythling parts of Southampton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North West Hampshire (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1983 onwards

North West Hampshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2015 by Conservative Kit Malthouse, who served as Education Secretary in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelmersh</span> Human settlement in England

Michelmersh is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Michelmersh and Timsbury, in the Test Valley district, in the county of Hampshire, England. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) north of Romsey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basingstoke (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1885 onwards

Basingstoke is a constituency in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Luke Murphy, a member of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchester (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1918 onwards

Winchester is a constituency in Hampshire represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Danny Chambers, a Liberal Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastleigh (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1955 onwards

Eastleigh is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2024 by Liz Jarvis, a Liberal Democrat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockbridge, Hampshire</span> Human settlement in England

Stockbridge is a town and civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. It had a population of 592 at the 2011 census. It sits astride the River Test and at the foot of Stockbridge Down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Romsey and Southampton North (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the UK, 2010 onwards

Romsey and Southampton North is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since its 2010 creation by Caroline Nokes for the Conservative Party. For the purposes of election expenses and type of returning officer it is a county constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River Anton</span> River in Hampshire, England

The River Anton is a chalk stream in Hampshire in south east England. It rises in Andover and flows southwards for approximately 8 miles (13 km) to meet the River Test near Chilbolton. The principal tributary of the Anton, the Pillhill Brook, joins the river at Upper Clatford.

Upper Clatford is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England. The village is in the valley of the River Anton, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) upstream from the point where it joins the River Test at the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Tytherley</span> Human settlement in England

West Tytherley is a village and civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Stockbridge, which lies approximately 6 miles (10 km) north-east from the village, although its post town is Salisbury. The parish shares a joint parish council with the neighbouring parish of Frenchmoor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton Stacey</span> Hamlet in England

Newton Stacey is a hamlet in the Barton Stacey civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Stockbridge, which lies approximately 4.5 miles (7.3 km) south-west from the hamlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andover Guildhall</span> Municipal building in Andover, Hampshire, England

Andover Guildhall is a municipal building in the High Street, Andover, Hampshire, England. The guildhall, which was the headquarters of Andover Borough Council, is a Grade II* listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Test Valley Local Authority (E07000093)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 31 May 2023
  3. ↑ "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
  4. ↑ Alterations of Area and Status (PDF). London: Department of the Environment. 1976. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Oliver, Toby (22 May 2024). "Mayor of Test Valley: Cllr Ian Jeffrey elected into role". Andover Advertiser. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "New Chief Executive for Test Valley". Test Valley Borough Council News. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
  8. ↑ "Members". New Forest National Park. Retrieved 12 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Council minutes". Test Valley Borough Council. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "Past leaders of the council". Test Valley Borough Council. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  12. ↑ "Local elections 2023: live council results for England". The Guardian.
  13. ↑ "The Test Valley (Electoral Changes) Order 2018", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2018/36, retrieved 14 November 2023
  14. ↑ Borrett, David (20 February 2021). "Andover History: The tale of the mighty Beech Hurst". Andover Advertiser. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "Test Valley Borough Council" . Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Sport England Active People Survey National Factsheet". 2007. Archived from the original (XLS) on 15 March 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  17. ↑ "Test Valley Scores in Top 20 Rural Areas to Live, Says The Halifax". Inspired Community. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Halifax Survey Ranks Test Valley as 14th Best Rural Area to Live". Inspired Community.
  19. ↑ "Parish Council contact details". Test Valley Borough Council. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "Full Freeview on the Rowridge (Isle Of Wight, England) transmitter". May 2004.
  21. ↑ "Hannington (Hampshire, England) Full Freeview transmitter". May 2004.

51°08′22″N1°29′28″W / 51.1394°N 1.491°W / 51.1394; -1.491

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