LEON Allen is absolutely right to point out that the Andover Guildhall needs to be better used, but it is the council's failure to promote the building that is at the route of the problem.

When the council's budget for promoting the Guildhall is a big fat zero, it is hardly surprising that its use has declined.

There are many publicly owned buildings successfully run as community spaces by local councils, who see money spent on them as investment rather than a burdensome cost and in any case derive far more income from them when properly promoted.

Many community groups and individuals have joined Save the Andover Guildhall, the list is growing week by week.

Nearly 6,000 people have signed a petition to keep the Guildhall as a community resource and those petitions are still coming in. It's difficult to find any support for the council's plan to lease out the lower Guildhall. Community spaces are a vital part of any community, they bring people together, forge links between young and old, make people feel that they belong and best of all get people from all walks of life involved in something positive.

Test Valley councillors as elected officials have a duty to lead the way and set the example to bring communities together, not further apart. After all is that not why we put them there in the first place?

Andover Guildhall is our village hall at the centre of our community; it could be the thriving hub at the centre of Andover life once again, with a little support and commitment from TVBC.

Sarah Evans Chairperson, STAG, Lowry Court, Andover.