IT WAS possibly the most attended public forum that Winchester City Council has ever held. More than 150 people joined an online meeting to discuss feedback on the latest Silver Hill proposals – whilst dozens of others likely listened in to the live broadcast. Civic chiefs shared the reaction they had received during a lengthy consultation period over the scheme, now known as Central Winchester Regeneration. Following a 40-minute presentation, members of the public were invited to type their questions in the chat column. It is unclear how many questions were submitted. A council officer selected some and put them to councillors and project officers, without identifying the enquirer.
Design for new business unts at former council depot at Bishops Waltham. IT HAS been vacant since the spring of 2019. But work at Bishop s Waltham Depot has been stalled time and time again – most recently due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ward councillor David McLean expressed his frustration at a Winchester City Council meeting on January 13. He said: Could the cabinet member please update us on the progress of the depot build here in Bishops Waltham as it appears to have stalled yet again?” Cllr Kelsie Learney said that work is due to begin in March, and that it should be completed in late December, early January of next year.
IMPORTANT progress is being made on the move of the GP surgery in Winchester city centre. The city council has agreed to sell the leasehold of the Upper Brook Street car park to a specialist primary healthcare provider who will build the new St Clement s practice which has around 15,000 patients. Final negotiations will be undertaken before the sale goes through, the Cabinet heard. Civic chiefs worked with St Clements and the West Hampshire clinical commissioning group to select the developer, now revealed as Assura plc. St Clements has been working to relocate to the car park at Upper Brook Street for several years to replace its rapidly ageing building on Tanner Street.
A new Silver Hill scheme is set to be revealed IT LOOKS as though the negative stigma around Silver Hill could be fading away. According to Winchester City Council, 79 per cent of people who attended an online consultation felt excited or optimistic about the new plans. More than 2,000 people have attended the virtual meetings regarding the Silver Hill scheme, which is now known as Central Winchester Regeneration. Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for housing and asset management said: Proposals to revitalise the city centre will support our High Street and bring about positive change for Winchester. We are determined to deliver the best scheme, the best way, based on what we know the people of Winchester want. We are so excited about sharing our plans with the public and delighted that, despite the difficult times we are living through, people have taken the time to see them and share our enthusiasm to move forward.