On Winchester Now this week:
- It’s the 10th anniversary of the Heritage Open Days Festival which runs from Friday 10th to Sunday 21st September. Winchester Radio’s Mary Blaxland speaks to the local coordinator.
- UK Emergency Alerts – happening this Sunday 7th September at 3pm.
- News-in-brief:
- Changes to local government highlighted again this week– with New proposals for the reorganisation of Local Government have been unveiled which would see Hampshire County Council, and 12 local councils, replaced by just 4 unitary authorities.
- Food waste recycling collections will be rolled-out across Winchester from October. The service will be launched in phases between now and the end of March 2026.
- The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Service got its first female Chief this week – Sabrina Cohen Hatton.
- Students from the University of Winchester’s Popular Music Performance and Production course, are putting on a fundraiser on 26th September to support much loved independent Winchester music venue, The Railway Inn.
- Work has started to demolish a derelict building next to the Chesil Theatre. It’s part of a £1.2m extension to the medieval listed building, A fundraising campaign is currently underway.
- Refurbishments continue on Winchester’s former nightclub in Upper Brook Street, as the building is being turned into a food hall with entertainment space. It is expected to open later this autumn.
- And, after many decades, the name “WH Smith” has now left the High Street in Winchester. The shop has been rebranded “TG Jones” following the sale of the company.
- Sports News-in-brief:
- Congratulations to the St. Cross Symondians Women’s First IX who have secured the Hampshire League title.
- Winchester City FC are out of this year’s F.A. Cup Tournament after their 1-0 defeat to Fareham on Tuesday night.
- Winchester City Flyers has a new Captain – Emma Whitlock.
- The annual Youth Tournament for the Winchester City Flyers kicks off this weekend.
- Rotary’s Clarendon Marathon takes place on Sunday 5th October. Online registrations close for the event this Sunday 7th September.
- A special DemFest event has taken place at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey offering support to those affected by dementia. Winchester Radio’s Anna O’Brien went along.
- Community Shout-outs:
- To the Hampshire Hospitals Catering team on achieving 5 stars from Environmental Health for Food Safety.
- To all those kindly making food donations to local charity the Winchester Beacon who support people experiencing homelessness – some of these donations are used to make welcome packs for residents when they are moving on to a new home.
- To family-run business the Lawrence Oxley Bookshop and Art Gallery in Alresford on celebrating 75 years of trading in the town.
- To Rick Stein Winchester for hosting charity coffee mornings to help grassroot causes such as Winchester Radio who held one recently.
