A surfaced path round Charlton park in Andover opens later this autumn, with padel courts, a resurfaced 3G pitch and LED track lights also planned.

A new surfaced path around the park at Charlton, on the northern edge of Andover, is nearly finished and should be fully open later this autumn. It is the first of several projects Test Valley Borough Council has under way or planned across the Charlton site, alongside padel courts, a resurfaced 3G football pitch and new LED floodlights at the athletics track.

The council, which also covers Romsey and the Test Valley villages west of Winchester, set out the plans in a news release on 30 October. It says the aim is to give residents “more opportunities to be active, stay healthy, and live well”.

The path

The new route runs around the park and, the council says, will make it “easier and more accessible for people to walk around the park, while also improving the course used for Parkrun”. Work is described as nearing completion.

Grass park at Charlton with a young red-leaved tree in the foreground, temporary metal fencing and fresh earthworks behind it, and a small digger on the far side
Path works behind temporary fencing at Charlton, Andover. Photo: supplied by Test Valley Borough Council

The 3G pitch and the floodlights

Plans are progressing to resurface the 3G pitch at Charlton Leisure Centre, with funding support from the Football Foundation. The work includes new fencing and upgraded floodlights.

At Charlton Athletics Track, the council plans to replace the current floodlights with LED lights, which it says will light the track and the central football pitch and athletics field as well.

Both the pitch and the floodlight projects still need planning permission, so neither has a start date yet.

Padel at Andover Community Sports

New padel courts, operated by Portway Padel, are coming to Andover Community Sports, where martial arts classes already run. They replace the old tennis and netball courts and the skate park, which the council says “have sadly reached the end of their usable life”. The release gives no opening date for the courts.

The Lawn Tennis Association said on 20 October that 1.5 million adults and juniors now play padel in Britain, on 2,445 courts at 682 venues, up from 860,000 players at the end of 2025 and 15,000 in 2019 (LTA, 20 October 2026).

What the councillors say

Councillor Terese Swain, the council’s portfolio holder for community, leisure and tourism, said: “Being active is one of the best ways people can look after their physical and mental wellbeing. By investing in places like Charlton, we can make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to build activity into their everyday lives.

“Whether that’s playing sport, joining Parkrun or simply going for a walk, we want people to have opportunities to get active in ways that work for them.”

Councillor Linda Lashbrook, who represents Charlton and the Pentons ward, said: “There’s a lot happening at Charlton. These projects represent significant investment in facilities used by the community. By investing in Charlton and working with our partners, we’re creating more opportunities for people to be active and helping our communities live healthier lives.

“We want people to have good-quality places and facilities on their doorstep that help them stay active, connect with others, and enjoy where they live.”

The release does not say how much the projects cost in total.

What it means for you

  • Walkers and parkrunners: the surfaced loop should be fully open later this autumn, giving a firm, more accessible route round the park and a better parkrun course.
  • Footballers and athletes: the 3G pitch and the track lights both depend on planning permission first. Applications will appear on Test Valley’s planning register, where anyone can comment.
  • Padel players: Portway Padel will run the new courts. The old tennis, netball and skate park facilities they replace are no longer usable.