A SOON-TO-BE mother of two is gaining support after calling for a new water feature play area to be brought to the town.

Hollie Boare, of Picket Twenty, set up a petition last week suggesting the installation of a ‘splash pad’ in Andover.

Within three days the petition had passed 1,000 signatures and at the time of writing 1,666 people had signed.

Those to back the cause include residents, parents and a number of grandparents who look after grandchildren at times. Comments shared on the petition cite the town’s growing population and the lack of similar facilities as some of the key reasons for backing the splash pad proposal.

Hollie, who has a two-year-old daughter and is expecting her second child later this month, says the idea to start the petition came from her first-hand experience of the shortage of such facilities in Andover.

She said: “It’s just from being out and about and thinking, ‘why don’t we have one?’ I know from meeting other mums the area is just lacking a bit.”

There are similar splash pads at Eastrop Park, in Basingstoke, and Hedge End, in Southampton, but both are at least a half hour drive from Andover.

“We travel quite a lot to find weekend stuff to do,” she said.

“Travelling with a toddler to get to another town, just so she can enjoy herself in the water is not ideal.”

And Hollie says there are many families without access to these places since they can’t drive – including her mum, who looks after her daughter some weekends.

“My mum has my daughter on the weekend. How’s she meant to get out and do something?”

Charlton Lakes has been suggested as a possible spot for a potential splash pad, with spaces at Picket Twenty and Vigo Park also mentioned.

“I live at Picket Twenty,” said Hollie. “Obviously I get that’s quite out of town for a few people. But Charlton is somewhere where a lot of people go, so I guess that would be an ideal place.

“The ones I go to aren’t even that huge and there are kids there all the time. It wouldn’t even take up a whole field.”

Test Valley Borough Council was contacted for a comment about the petition.

Leader of the council, Councillor Phil North, said: “Thank you to the petitioners for being this to our attention.

“Whilst the council, in partnership with Places Leisure, has recently installed an indoor splash pad at the new Andover Leisure Centre, we don’t currently have any plans for an outdoor one. That said, we are always happy to explore options and through the new masterplan for Andover, have huge plans to completely redevelop the town centre.

“Town centres are fast becoming more of a place for leisure and living as well as retail - and we would urge all those who would like an outdoor splash pad to respond to the Masterplan consultation when it goes live later this summer.”

To view the petition go to change.org and search ‘splash pad in Andover’.