On this week’s WInchester Now:
- Plans for part of the Central Winchester Regeneration scheme were unveiled this week. They show the area around King’s Walk and Friarsgate, including housing, offices and green space. Members of the public have been given a chance to see images during a consultation event at The Nutshell. Mary Blaxland went along to meet the developer and ask visitors to the exhibition for their views on the plans. Additional drop-in sessions will take place at Colden Common Community Centre on Tuesday 16th June from 1 – 5pm, Alresford Community Centre on Wednesday 17th June from noon to 4pm, and the Jubilee Hall in Kingsworthy on Thursday 18th June from 11am – 3pm. In the meantime, you can see photos of some of the plans on our Facebook page.
- News-in-brief:
- Three complete weekend closures of the Winnall roundabout have been announced for July, August and September this year, to allow essential work to be carried out. And the M3 junction 9 northbound-entry slip road is also being shut from the end of July, until the winter of 2027.
- Police are appealing for information, and any relevant dash-cam footage, following a serious collision between a car and a motorbike on the A272 close to Cheesefoot Head last Sunday. The 44-year-old motorcyclist is said to have suffered life-changing injuries.
- Hampshire Hospitals says planning is underway to minimise disruption to patients, as resident doctors prepare for strike action on 15th – 19th June. It comes at a time when the hospital is facing high demand, and bosses are urging the public to use NHS 111 and local pharmacists and GPs, and to attend the A&E department only in life-threatening emergencies.
- The Winchester BID Ranger service is increasing its patrols from 5 to 7 days a week. The city-centre Rangers support local businesses, and work to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. It’s hoped the increased support will give reassurance to businesses, visitors and residents, by providing a visible security presence across the city centre.
- The Duke of Gloucester has opened a new detox facility at Trinity Winchester. The Kingfisher Suite is a pilot scheme, supporting people undergoing alcohol detoxification and providing 24-hour care in a fully staffed, residential setting. The City Council is funding the first year of the project, with support from St Clements Surgery, and drug and alcohol services.
- A deep clean of Winchester High Street has continued this week. Contractors have been using specialist chemical-free cleaning technology to get rid of built-up grime and chewing gum. Meanwhile, Summer Floral Displays are being installed across the city centre by Winchester BID. The displays include more than 500 hanging baskets, which will remain in place until October.
- Marwell Zoo is celebrating the birth of two Snow Leopards, the first to be born at the zoo in more than a decade – mum and cubs are said to be doing well. It’s part of Marwell’s big-cat conservation project, which operates both in on-site breeding centres, and in the wild, where the zoo collaborates with partners in China, Bhutan, and Kazakhstan, to protect these endangered animals.
- Volunteering opportunities:
- The Watercress Line heritage railway is seeking volunteers to help in a range of volunteer roles, be it restoring locomotives or maintaining tracks, to welcoming visitors, helping on board the trains with catering or customer service, to keeping the station grounds and gardens looking lovely. The charity has Volunteer Welcome Days on 25th July, 6th September, 18th October & 29th November, where you can find out more. To attend one of these Welcome Days, visit the website, email them, or call 01962 587058.
- As a Volunteer driver for the charity MHA Communities Central Hampshire you’d be driving older people around Winchester. The team would particularly love to hear from you if you would like the chance to train to become a minibus driver and are available on Fridays. Volunteers to provide kitchen help, and activities support are also needed, plus befrienders. If you’d like to find out more about volunteering with our local MHA Communities to help the older generation, contact the charity either by calling the office on 01962 890995 or email the local team.
- The volunteer-run community event of street entertainment and music – ‘Beggars Fair’ in Romsey – takes place on Saturday 11th July, and they are looking for more volunteers to join them on the day. For example, you could help for an hour selling programmes during the event between 12noon and 3pm, or you could assist with set-up for the event in the town on the day, or act as a volunteer steward or marshal to assist the Romsey Town marshals with road closures and traffic movements during the event. If any of these roles sounds of interest, then get in touch with the organising volunteers through their website.
- The Wildfire Youth Project, which supports young people in Winchester, is celebrating its 10th birthday. The project works with churches and schools across the city to offer courses, after-school drop-ins, and even runs a mobile youth club from a bus. Mary Blaxland spoke to Ellie Payne who co-ordinates the project.
- Shout-outs:
- To Winchester City Councillor Richard Murphy, who recently reached an incredible milestone of donating 250 units of blood platelets. He received a commemorative award at a donor recognition ceremony held in Southampton, and is using his achievement to encourage more Hampshire residents to become active donors. Councillor Murphy began his donation journey at age 18 and is particularly advocating for the donation of platelets. NHS Blood and Transplant has an ongoing, urgent need for these types of donations, especially from individuals with rarer blood types like A-, AB-, and A+. If you want to find out more about how you can become a donor for platelets, blood, tissue or plasma, do visit the NHS dedicated website.
- To Lorna Shelby, who works as a Policy & Advocacy Officer for the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, on being named as a Rising Star in the ENDS Report Power List 2026, celebrating the country’s most influential environmental professionals. 23-year-old Lorna’s inclusion reflects her growing influence in championing stronger protections for nature, particularly her work to raise the profile of England’s chalk streams and rivers – some of the rarest habitats in the world, many of which flow through Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
- To Brendoncare St Giles View resident, Amy! A special birthday party was held for her and her family, complete with some celebratory fizz and a delicious chocolate cake, to mark Amy’s 104th birthday! Many happy returns Amy.
To all the volunteers involved at the Romsey Men’s Shed as it celebrates its 10th anniversary! Members, partners, supporters, friends and guests recently gathered to mark the special occasion, and were joined by Mayor of Romsey, Colin Burgess. Over the past decade, the Shed has offered companionship, and many solid friendships have formed; and through undertaking practical activities, it has provided a sense of purpose and support for many local men, becoming an important part of the Romsey community, and helping to reduce loneliness and isolation.
