Winchester City Council Fails to Update on River Park Plans
Winchester City Council has yet to provide updates on the River Park site, raising concerns among local leaders and residents.
Winchester, River Park, University of Southampton, Leisure Centre, Councillor Stephen Godfrey
Winchester: At a recent council meeting, Councillor Stephen Godfrey really put Lib Dem leader Martin Tod on the spot about the River Park Leisure Centre. This place has been sitting empty for years, and folks are getting anxious.
The university bought the building three years back, and now it’s set to be demolished. Cllr Godfrey pointed out that we’re halfway through a five-year plan for the university to share their ideas for the site.
He asked, “When can we expect a clear plan for moving forward?” It’s a fair question, considering the clock is ticking.
Cllr Tod mentioned he met with university reps in October and is hopeful for some news soon. He said they’re working hard to clarify the future of River Park.
But Cllr Godfrey wasn’t letting up. He reminded everyone that there’s less than two years left to get a planning application sorted out. “Is there even a chance this can happen in time?” he pressed.
Cllr Tod replied, “Anything is possible,” and said he’d be meeting with officers soon to discuss options. Meanwhile, some locals want to keep the site as a public space, arguing it was meant for community use.
The leisure centre hasn’t been used in about four years, with the new Sport and Leisure Park in Bar End taking its place.