THE war in Iraq resulted in the biggest slump in business in Tidworth in many years, it was revealed at a meeting in the town.

The cause of the problem was the withdrawal of thousands of soldiers from the garrison town on overseas duties.

When the barracks are full around 5,000 soldiers can be in the area but at times during large parts of 2004 there were only 450 troops left in the garrison.

Many dependants leave the area for long periods when troops are on tour and those that remain tend not to be in 'spending mode'.

It all leads to slim pickings for the businesses that remain and compounds the need for an additional 3,000 civilian homes in the area to help balance out the military/civilian mix and iron out the business peaks and troughs.

At a meeting of Tidworth Parish Council councillor Mrs Jean Sawyer wondered whether the extra houses were really necessary over the coming 20 years but the chairman of the Tidworth Chamber of Commerce disagreed.

David Wildman, who has many years' experience of trading in the town, said: "Last year was the worst trading year in Tidworth for a long, long time and if we don't increase the population the community of Tidworth is going to die.

"We need quality shops and the only way to get them is to have a stable population."

Council chairman Steve Dagger, who is also the postmaster, said it was true business had suffered al-though wives sending parcels off to husbands abroad had helped to maintain his business.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser.