Protesters in fight to save antiques site (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Protesters in fight to save antiques site

10:00am Tuesday 6th March 2007 in Silver Hill By Andrew Napier

PROTESTERS made their voices heard over the proposed destruction of Winchester Antiques Market.

The Victorian building in King's Walk is facing demolition when the area between The Broadway and Friarsgate is revamped.

Dubbed the Silver Hill Renaissance, the £100m overhaul is expected to provide around 265 homes, 35 shops and a replacement bus station.

The developers, Thornfield Properties, are currently in exclusive talks with Winchester City Council over delivering the scheme.

Under the company's plans, the street pattern in the eastern end of the city centre would be altered.

As a result, the antiques market will have to be demolished to make room for the new roads, the firm says.

It has also calculated that it would cost too much - around £1m - to dismantle the building and move it elsewhere.

The traders are fighting to save their current home, which is not listed, but is nearly 150 years old and used to be a furniture warehouse.

Some say they have also faced another battle in convincing customers that the market has not been demolished already.

As part of their campaign to keep the building, the traders lobbied city council members when they met last Wednesday.

They presented a petition with more than 4,000 signatures, calling for the market to be saved.

One of the traders, Judith Burnett, then addressed the councillors. She argued that the antiques market was worth saving.

"We believe that buildings of this type enhance the individuality of Winchester."

She then voiced her concerns over plans to replace the market with a series of small kiosks dotted around the Silver Hill area.

She said they would be inadequate on security grounds, particularly if antiques or jewellery were stored in them.

Council leader, Cllr George Beckett, replied that the authority would be considering Thornfield's planning application later this year.

Until that time, he argued that it would be premature to make any comments about the scheme.

"We can return to the matter when we are more free to speak about it," he said.