On this week’s Winchester Now:
- News-in-brief:
- Swimmers in colourful swimwear took to the steps of the Guildhall on Wednesday. Members of the City Council’s Cabinet voted unanimously to select Sea Lanes as its preferred bidder to redevelop the former River Park Leisure Centre into a Lido. The proposal will still need planning permission, but the first steps have been welcomed by campaigners who have been fighting for a lido since 2020.
- A reminder that the third full closure of the M3 junction 9 takes place this weekend. The roundabout, and local roads leading to it, will be shut from 9pm on Friday to 6am on Monday.
- Local government reorganisation in Hampshire has been put on hold, after the Government launched a review of the plans following new legal advice. Local elections in May next year will go ahead on existing council boundaries.
- Residents are being invited to comment on plans for major changes to the Badger Farm Road and Oliver’s Battery junction. The consultation runs until Sunday 11th October, with a public information event on Wednesday 23rd September at St Mark’s Church, in Oliver’s Battery.
- Plans have, once again, been submitted to redevelop the derelict RAOB club in Cross Keys Passage, which has been empty for nearly a decade. They include demolishing the current building and erecting 7 flats above a ground floor shop.
- A new exhibition at the University of Winchester’s West Downs Gallery is celebrating the compact disc. Called “Perfect Sound Forever”, it explores the cultural impact of the CD, which once dominated music collections. The exhibition will also include album booklets, Discmans and hi-fis.
- Mary Blaxland went along to the Littleton Show last Saturday, and asked some of the thousands of visitors what they thought about the show, and spoke to Lisa Fielding, Chair of the Show Committee, about the work that is involved in putting-on such an event.
- Becky Frew speaks to JJ Health-Caldwell, Chair of the organising committee for the Rotary Clarendon Marathon, which this year takes place on Sunday 4th October.
- Community shout-outs:
- To Andy from the Boaz Project, a charity which supports adults with learning disabilities, who received the prestigious ‘Best In Show’ Trophy at last Saturday’s ‘Littleton and Harestock Show’ for much of the fresh produce he has grown.
- To the members of charity Winchester Go LD, another charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, members of which have done a brilliant job brightening up Winchester Railway Station with their gorgeous sunflower planter display.
- To the Friday Lunch Club kitchen team at MHA Communities Hampshire Central, a charity which runs many local activities for older people to help reduce loneliness and isolation. The teamhas kept their 5-star hygiene rating by the local food standards agency.
- To First Team Manager of Winchester City Football Club, Craig Davis, on reaching the impressive milestone of his 400th game, and also on 10 years of dedicated service at the club.
- To Winchester Walking Football’s Over-65s team, who played in the National Finals last weekend. Though they did not take home the championship’ trophy – well done to all involved at Winchester Walking Football Club’s Over-65s, who had a brilliant achievement, finishing just 4 points behind the overall winning team.
