... the new housing development on Burghclere Down has a real sense of community with its own Community Centre and monthly newsletter.

Andover has given us the opportunity to buy our own home and live in safety. Our children can go out to play in lovely fields provided by the council.

We could have had none of this in London.

It doesn't have fancy shops, or huge department stores, but we don't want it to be a Basingstoke. Andover gave us a life!

The forthcoming cinema facility is long overdue, but again, the cinema will not be centrally located. The shopping facility is OK without being outstanding.

The council, I think, are less than generous and their rulings on garden waste disposal (and Andover has a great many gardens - hundreds of them) are unrealistic. Given the number of cars which people use to take their garden waste to the council facility and the fact that they have to often queue and wait to get in - and with their engines running - does nothing for the environment.

There are worse places than Andover, but the town could be oh so much better.

I now have a daughter and there are a wide variety of activities for her to do. Finkley Down Farm Park on the outskirts of Andover is good for the little ones.

The nightlife is getting better and also the latest refurbishment of the high street (and the Danebury) is looking really great!

Andover is the ideal place to bring up your children and also for professionals to settle. The price of the houses in the area make it an ideal place for people who earn a lot of money to live. Having Basingstoke, Salisbury, Winchester and Southampton so close by is a godsend. If you really wanted to escape from Andover it is easy!

Come and have a look and see if I am telling the truth!

The local council put on an excellent display of flowers all year round, and have invested in excellent river walks and parks. Theres plenty of things for families - lakes, sports centres, bowling, swimming, go-karting, etc. There may not be any large department stores except M&S, but most high street stores are found in the modern shopping centre. There's a market twice a week and an excellent farmers' market on Sundays.

Schools are generally good, with choice of public schools as as well as state.
The coast is less than an hour away, as is Centre Parcs and Longleat. It's a bit far for commuting to London, 70 minutes by train, but people still do it.
We've made lots of friends and think Andover is worth a look.