Who cares ? - TrustNews Mar 16
A recent radio programme posed the question ‘Do we all see and feel things the same way ?
This article poses the same question, but in a more specific form ‘ Do we all see and feel the same way about Winchester ?’
I suggest that answers will vary according to where we live, St Cross, Fulflood or Harestock, how we use the City as a mother, a commuter or a shop assistant, or the level of awareness and expectations of living in an historic city.
The Trust cares about the City and tries to address and respond to issues that will maintain and enhance the character of the City, by influencing decision-makers to keep it as a pleasant place in which to live, work and to visit.
The issues that erode or enhance the character of the City are many, everchanging and diverse.
This, as a member of the Trust Policy Planning Group, is a personal (Baker’s dozen) miscellany of issues, in the form of observations and ideas. It is intended that you as a member will react – oh yes I totally agree with that – what on earth is he on about – I really have never given that a thought.
1. The new livery of King’s City buses is very smart and is a welcome addition to the streets of Winchester.
2. The sacrificial grass on the south side of the Cathedral in The Close exposed, following the Christmas market and ice rink and the car parking north of the Cathedral Green detracts from the setting of our premier listed building.
3. The outdoor café spaces in the High Street, Jewry Street and The Square are attractive and bring vitality to the City Centre.
4. The City enjoys an attractive landscape setting amidst the surrounding hills of chalk downland. Continuing expansion of the City to the north, west and south will have a detrimental impact on this setting. Consideration should be given to designating a Green Belt around the City to link up with the South Downs National Park to the east, to protect the setting.
5. The character of the pedestrian section of the High Street, with its long history, fine buildings and pavement, is seriously compromised by the street market.
6. As part of Silver Hill Plan B, consideration be given to converting part of the Brooks Centre into an indoor market, open to the surrounding streets.
7. The City has many fine open spaces such as St Giles Hill, Joyce Gardens and Orams Arbour. Others, such as the area in front of the Law Courts, are dull and poorly used.
8. The University of Winchester and Peter Symonds Sixth Form College have fine reputations and are assets to the City. The time has come to consider the capacity of the City to accommodate their continuing growth and expansion.
9. In many parts of the City the pavements, grass verges, kerbs and gutters are in poor condition. They suffer from damage caused by cars and lorries mounting kerbs. A difficult problem, but a programme of enforcement and the use of more robust and durable replacement paving materials is required.
10. Trying to park nearby and go for a walk in the water meadows at weekends is becoming more and more difficult.
11. The Park and Ride schemes work well.
12. The free movement of traffic in residential roads is becoming more and more dependent on the availability of vacant parking bays for use as passing places.
13. Winchester is such a special place that it should be given a Cathedral City status which would mean that the protection of its character, to be clearly defined and understood (no easy task), is a planning designation that should override all other considerations.
All very interesting you may say, or perhaps not. If you do care please could you e-mail your view on these 13 issues to the Trust, secretary@cityofwinchestertrust.co.uk on the subject Who cares ?
Agree with nos...........................................
Disagree with nos.......................................
What about the issue of..............................
The Trust will publish your responses in the next edition of the Newsletter.