HEALTH and safety problems have stopped the Environment Agency from clearing rubbish clogging the river in Andover.

Debris builds up especially in the Town Mills area. Cllr Alan Smith, however, told Andover Councillors' Forum the agency had not been able to do too much because the river was too deep and fast in the Town Mills area.

The agency was negotiating with Test Valley Borough Council to install hard standing near the river bank to make it safer to collect rubbish and keep the waterway clear.