To receive and note the questions asked and statements made from members of the public on issues relating to the responsibility of this Forum.
Members of the public and visiting councillors may speak at the Forum, provided they have registered to speak three working days in advance. Please contact Democratic Services by 5pm on Friday, 6 June 2025 via democracy@winchester.gov.uk or (01962) 848 264 to register to speak and for further details.
Minutes:
Five members of the public/groups and one visiting councillor addressed the Forum.
Ian Tait, Richard Spalding, Kate Needham and Stephanie Danby and Jo Ashwell on behalf of Chesil Theatre spoke during public participation. A summary of their comments are set out below.
In addition, Patrick Davies and Councillor Horrill spoke during item 8 (Response to the request of Winchester Town Forum for a CGR) and a summary of their comments are set out under the relevant minute below.
Ian Tait
Raised concerns regarding the Winchester River Park redevelopment and the former River Park Leisure Centre site, highlighting the following points:
· Stated that he was reminded during the Winchester Park Run of a land transaction considered by Cabinet on 9th March 2022 regarding the River Park Leisure Centre and Southampton University, whereby he had spoken in support of the proposals and welcomed the link to the University.
· Mr Tait recalled that at the time the Leader had welcomed his support and explained it was not appropriate to delay the decision, emphasising that future extensive collaboration consultation would be undertaken by the University.
· Mr Tait then referred to the recent statement of the Leader dated 20 March 2025 which confirmed that the University was not going head and were considering their options.
· Mr Tait made reference to feedback he had received from several people at the University and questioned the dialogue that had taken place with them. He asserted that consultation could only achieve so much but action was now critical given the disgraceful state of the old leisure centre building.
· He reported that information on the public notice board regarding the site was four years out of date and he had been unable to find information from the council.
· He made referenced to the successful Laundry Art Project which drew residents and visitors to Winchester.
· In conclusion, Mr Tait stated that in 2022 solicitors had offered assurance that the covenant on the land had been looked at in detail but three years later nothing had been done which he deemed unacceptable.
In response, Councillor Becker thanked Mr Tait for raising this matter in a timely manner as the council were imminently due to be issuing a press release inviting people to a public engagement session on 26th June, at 3pm to 7pm in the Courtyard, Winchester Guildhall. The session would seek public opinion and ideas regarding a planned process for the future of the site and would be widely advertised via regular channels, including the council’s website once information was released on 13 June.
Richard Spalding (on behalf of Winchester Rotary)
· Mr Spalding sought approval to install a peace pole in the soroptimist garden at the back of Abbey House.
· He made reference to the history of peace poles around the world, with the initiative originating in Japan in 1954, with few in existence in the UK.
· He highlighted the standard wording contained on the peace pole which was written in seven languages.
· It was hoped that Winchester could be the first city in the South of England to erect a peace pole, with Abbey Gardens considered to be the best location as Winchester promotes peace, was a City of Mayors for peace, had the longest-serving mayoralty outside London, and was a City of Sanctuary.
· Mr Spalding stated that Abbey Gardens was the mayor's garden, and the soroptimists had agreed to the installation in their garden behind the house. A location which would provide an appropriately serene and discreet, yet visible and tangible, focus for Winchester's goal to support peace.
· Other benefits included helping to spread the culture of peace, especially to children, who along with schools, could visit to initiate conversations and undertake projects on peace. International visitors could also enjoy this with its seven languages, which would promote Winchester.
· Mr Spalding suggested that the next Mayors for Peace commemoration in early August would be a highly appropriate target for its installation and had shared images of what the pole might look like in the soroptimist garden upon installation.
In response, the Chairperson thanked Mr Spalding for attending and presenting the proposal, noting the support from both past and present Mayors, and acknowledging previous discussions with officers and councillors.
It was agreed that the Town Forum's Climate and Open Space Informal Group, which monitors and makes recommendations about open spaces within the town area, would progress the matter and aimed to provide a proposal for the next meeting.
Kate Needham
· She expressed concern regarding urban tree and hedgerow management, specifically highlighting the removal and cutting of hedgerow along the footpath between Priors Dean Road and Andover Road.
· It was noted that the hedgerow had been removed during peak bird nesting season.
· She emphasised that urban hedgerows were extremely important as they supported a multitude of wildlife, helped to mitigate climate change, clean the air, and prevent localised flooding and she wished to prevent similar incidents.
· It was highlighted that the council responded to concerns by stating that overhanging branches had been reported by members of the public and that the work may have been necessary for safety reasons. If this was the case, the offending branches could have been identified and removed, or cut back a little along a ‘wide path’.
· A bird survey was reportedly carried by the contractor. She stated that local people familiar with the path and had seen nesting birds, were not content with the reasons for the cutting and removal of hedgerow and believed that if a robust procedure had been followed, involving the council's natural environment team, this habitat would have been protected.
· In conclusion, Mrs Needham added that she had written to IdVerde 12 days prior but had received no reply and questioned the policies and procedures that were in place to justify the action taken, instead of protecting important urban habitats and suggested that a performance review be undertaken.
In response, Councillor Learney (Cabinet Member for the Climate and Nature Emergency) highlighted the importance the council placed on protecting hedges and trees, but acknowledged that on rare occasion, works were deemed necessary. The path in question was frequently used by pedestrians and cyclists accessing Henry Beaufort Secondary School, Kings Barton and Harestock Primary School, thus works needed to be carried out during school holidays to minimise disruption and avoid lengthy detours for regular users.
It was reported that contractors had carried out nesting bird activity checks in the weeks prior to and on the morning of the works commencing, with work log evidence being taken throughout, indicating no bird activity in the areas that were cutback which had been further confirmed by professional ecologists.
In conclusion, Councillor Learney stated that the council were content that necessary checks had been undertaken and the works were justified but agreed that a more formal procedure should be investigated in respect of allowing works during this time of year.
Stephanie Danby (Chairman of Chesil Theatre), with Jo Ashwell (Co-Trustee of Chesil Theatre) also in attendance
· The Chesil Theatre was an entirely voluntary community theatre run as a charity, producing up to eight productions per year. In addition, they conducted "Chesil Outreach Out," where they take drama out to community groups in churches and similar venues and "Community Outreach In," where they bring groups, such as Hampshire County Council children in care, into the theatre to spend a day learning about their work.
· The theatre has a vibrant youth theatre. They run the Chesil Take Creative Writing Competition, which, although national, involved large numbers of people across the Winchester district, with the aim to do more of what they do really well.
· The planning consent received for their extension in November 2024 was welcomed. The theatre now owned the freehold of the church location and had acquired the freehold of the land next door, which was currently a derelict house.
· Reference was made to planned improvements including, improving audience amenities, a performance studio/community room for community use and a new planned entrance. It was also hoped they could address other issues such as making facilities wheelchair accessible and improvements to separate dressing rooms for children in performance
· Project costs were estimated at £2.1m, with over £1m raised to date, a further £1.1m required. Stephanie thanked the council for its support and the grant funding of £90,000. Once built the theatre would operate sustainably without revenue grants and was financially well managed, making a surplus year on year.
· The work of the youth theatre was highlighted and details of the fundraising capital campaign that commenced in March were shared.
· In conclusion, forum members were invited to contact Stephanie Danby if they wished to attend a guided tour of the theatre.
The Chairperson thanked Stephanie Danby and Jo Ashwell for attending and providing the opportunity for a guided tour. The forum supported and acknowledged Chesil Theatre as a valued asset in the city and as a fantastic facility offering a fun, diverse and interesting programme to many people across the Winchester district.
The Chairperson conveyed the forum’s support to help raise funds for the build of the new development proposed and acknowledged the continued support of the ward members for St Michael.