Local MP, Steve Brine, has called for a "pause for thought" on the future of the River Park site in central Winchester.
The site was vacated when the new leisure centre opened last year and Winchester City Council wants to sign an exclusive deal with Southampton University to explore its future use.
Many residents have raised concerns about the lack of consultation before the decision was taken and that led to a legal challenge brought by the newly formed Friends of River Park. WCC was forced to admit it had acted unlawfully and consequently rescinded it's proposal with the University. It is now running a fast paced exercise, which closes this Friday (5 February) to proceed with the agreement.
Meanwhile, as reported in the Hampshire Chronicle, an explosion of support has greeted a campaign to save the city's skate park. Its users fear the impending disposal of the site the University will lead to its closure because, in the long-term, the university will not want a skate park inside its expanded campus. A petition on the 38degrees website attracted more than 1,500 names in less than a week.
Steve Brine said; “Winchester has got so much on its plate right now, recovering from the pandemic and attempting to move Silver Hill forward.
“Clearly the River Park site needs a plan - it’s an eyesore - but it should be one properly consulted on in a way which takes my constituents with it and any deal with Southampton University must fit into a vision for Winchester. To rush into a five-year exclusive deal now, via a tick box consultation to please the lawyers, in the pursuit of doing ‘something’ would be a historic mistake and potentially threaten the health of some of our best loved institutions.
“Time for WCC to take pause for thought and be a lot more strategic.”
The MP wrote a column for the local paper about the future of this site late last year titled 'A vision for Winchester?'.
Pictured; Steve Brine MP with Stephen Kan, who organised the skate park petition and resident Sam Feltham at the River Park site on Friday.
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