Local History: The changing face of Andover High Street

The Brutalist architecture of the library buildings behind the Guildhall, now timber-clad in an attempt to soften the starkness of those uncompromising concrete blocks, was then fairly new and we can only suppose that some people at that time must have thought it looked smart – or at least, modern.

Readers may spot other changes carried out during this period – the central street lamps were one – but there was also the introduction of car parking charges in 1971, something we all accept today but which caused a great deal of angst at the time.

Cyril Berry, a former editor of this newspaper, was then chairman of the council’s finance committee and he had reported that provision of free car parks cost the council over £20,000 a year, a sum that was paid wholly by the ratepayers but which also benefited anyone visiting the town as well.

Introducing car parking charges would cost that much again in attendants’ wages, meters, stands and other sundry expenses but he was confident a charging policy would soon bring in a profit, thus removing any burden on the ratepayers.

Decimalisation of the currency was due to come in on 15 February 1971 and this was also the day planned for the changeover to fee-paying car parks.

Obviously, it was not a good idea to have to change all the meters from one currency to another, so this was sensible.

But as the day approached, although the meters were all in place, the delivery of the accompanying signs and posts had been delayed and it was not until 22 February that charging began.

Nobody wants to pay for something that has hitherto been provided free but the scale of charges and time-limits devised by the council was not only complicated but also severely limited shopping time.

There were three classes of car park - short, medium and long-term, as well as a special rate for parking in the centre of the High Street.

This latter was 2p for half-an-hour, for a maximum of one hour.

Short-term car parks were those closest to the town centre – West Street (now a multi-storey but then an open ground-level space for 400 cars), George Yard, South Street, rear of the Co-op in Bridge Street and Chantry Street - all 2p for three-quarters of an hour with a maximum of one and a half hours.

Medium- term car parks were farther out of the busiest areas, in Corporation Yard, The Acre and Black Swan Yard at 5p for two hours and a maximum of four hours, while the long-term versions were behind Suffolk Road, Town Station Yard and East Street.

These were 5p for up to five hours and 10p all-day.

Season tickets were also available in particular areas around the town or in designated spaces in the medium-term car parks at £25 per year.

It was not long before there were ‘grumbles’ over the restrictive time limits to the more convenient car parks – ‘How can a woman have her hair done and do her shopping in that short time?’ was one complaint.

Another ‘lady driver’ said, ‘I find it rather tedious.

One has to rush through one’s shopping like mad.

It is very inconvenient.’ Another said that by the time you get into the shops, half the time has gone.

A letter from Mrs Wisdom of Upper Clatford summed up the sentiments of many: ‘The masculine hand behind planning in Andover is all too obvious.’

The shopkeepers also suffered from a decline in their usual trade as once-full car parks had suddenly become almost empty as people either rebelled over the charges or did not have enough time to do anything but essential shopping.

The Andover Trades Council were always opposed to charging and warned what would happen but bemoaned the lack of support from the people of Andover beforehand.

The council however, was reasonably happy with the result, having taken £96 in the first two days and selling 51 season tickets.

Within a fortnight there were suggestions that the arrangements were going to be reviewed in council.

Alderman Martin Loveridge, chairman of the highways and works committee, admitted there were one or two little points which should be considered.’

Even the price of a season ticket was shown to be high in comparison with Winchester which charged £16, rather than Andover’s £25.

A week later there was a diverting-moment story whereby David Piper of Randall’s hairdressers put in 10p for an all-day park and got 37 tickets out in a roll and said that he often found this happened although 37 was a record.

A ‘borough spokesman’ failed to see any comic element, observing drily that the machine must be faulty.

The town traders continued to lobby the council, saying that the car parks were no longer full as they had once been and claimed that some of them were facing bankruptcy, owing to the limited time that consumers had to do just essential shopping.

No longer were they able to wander the streets and browse around, for fear of getting a fine for overstaying their allotted time.

The first break in the council wall came on 22 March when it was suggested that the price of a season ticket be reduced from £25 to £20.

Those who had already paid the higher figure would get a rebate.

Debate was more about the time limits and the complication of the scheme, rather than the amounts charged.

Comparisons with other towns were often unfair as the main aim was to relieve the cost of car parks from the ratepayers and this seemed the fairest way of doing it.

A public meeting held at the Guildhall – traditionally stormy affairs – lived up to their usual reputation. Everyone was against the council’s scheme.

It was ill-thought out - too complicated, no free parking anywhere (which was unique to Andover) and there was a risk of empty shops from which the council would receive no rates.

There were appeals for one charge in every car park, with no time limits.

At the next council meeting on 26 April, some amendments recommended by the council’s finance committee were rejected.

One of the major critics, Cllr Tim Readman, declared that there was ‘enormous public resentment’ and ‘the public are thoroughly dissatisfied.’

Furthermore, visitors to the town would find the intricacies of the 21 car parks hopelessly complicated.

He advocated one standard charge for all car parks. His view won out and the council voted nine votes to five to review the entire scheme.

After ‘secret talks’ by the highways and works committee, a much simpler scheme was devised, with motorists being able to park all day in all car parks, except in the High Street, where an hour limit was retained.

Prices were altered to allow extra hours for the same money and the season tickets were reduced from £25 to £16.

Cllr Readman was still not happy; he thought it was just as complicated as before and advocated a standard charge for all parks.

But most had now been won over; perhaps they had all had enough.

The new scheme was approved by the full council and Alderman Martin Loveridge summed up the opinion of most: ‘I should like to see all the car parks free but this is not possible. If the motorist doesn’t pay, then the ratepayer will have to pay.’ And who could argue with that?

If you are interested in local history, why not join Andover History and Archaeology Society? Details can be found at www.andoverlocalhistoryarchaeology.uk