People are being urged to give their comments on the Central Winchester Regeneration area’s draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) before the formal consultation ends next Monday (5 February).
Around 1,000 people have either attended drop-in exhibition events in Bishops Waltham and Alresford or received information about the plans at various locations around the district including bus and rail commuters and visitors to Winchester’s farmers market and Brooks Shopping Centre during the consultation period.
Charles Campion from JTP, the master planners and architects who have drafted the SPD and led the community engagement, is impressed with the quality of feedback people shared at the various events. He commented:
“We spent a lot of time getting people’s views before we drafted the SPD and so it was reassuring that many of the people who came to the consultation events with specific questions went away saying that their concerns had already been addressed in the document and so they didn’t need to make a formal response.”
Cllr Caroline Horrill, Council Leader and Chair of the Informal Policy Group said:
“It’s fantastic that so many people have already taken the opportunity to find out more about the plans and have their questions answered. We’ve worked really hard to involve a wide range of people throughout this process and I want to make sure that anyone who has comments on the draft SPD, whether they’re positive, negative or new ideas, doesn’t miss the opportunity to have their say.
She continued:
“There will, of course, be lots of opportunities to comment on specific plans for different areas of the site as individual planning applications are submitted but this is a once in a generation opportunity to comment on what is effectively the blueprint for the area.”
Full details about the consultation and the draft SPD document can be found at www.winchester.gov.uk/CWR
The draft SPD can also be viewed at the Winchester City Council office in Colebrook Street, Winchester and at local libraries in Winchester, New Alresford, Bishops Waltham, Waterlooville, Eastleigh, Chandler’s Ford, Fareham and Romsey.
The formal consultation will run until noon on Monday 5 February.
