A MAJOR Winchester scheme was described as a "magic cash card" by a councillor who criticised the council's focus on a scheme that may not even be developed.

As reported in the Chronicle, Winchester City Council has earmarked nearly £150m into the rebooted Station Approach scheme for business space and homes near Winchester station.

But this approach has been criticised heavily by opposition councillors in the Liberal Democrat group.

Even a conservative councillor said the scheme should come with a "health warning".

Last year the scheme was stopped in its track, when councillors voted against an architect which won a design competition.

The concerns were aired at the overview and scrutiny committee, where Lib Dems spoke about the council's medium-term strategy and budget.

Liberal Democrat leader Lucille Thomson said:"Looking at the budget it seems there is an over reliance on the council capital programme and one development in particular at Station Approach."

Even Kim Gottlieb who is very supportive of the new council leader Caroline Horrill and the administration currently spoke of concerns over Station Approach.

Cllr Gottlieb said: "There is a reliance on Station Approach to come forwards and we are not quite at that stage yet.

"There are other projects that are more advanced and I am worried if we are grouping it all together and Station Approach does not happen it won't reflect well on the council."

He added that Station Approach should come with a "health warning".

Council officer Joseph Holmes insisted that while Station Approach is important, that the council is focused on delivering "transformation savings".

The Liberal Democrats said the budget and strategy presented was lacking crucial details, for instance details of efficiencies and cuts.

Martin Tod said that the plan is not "serious" for what the council needs to do to be sustainable.

He said: "It seems that you want to have a magic station approach cash point for the council."

Former council leader and portfolio holder for finance, Stephen Godfrey said Cllr Tod had not done his homework, and insisted that the council is focused on replacing lost revenue from the government.

Speaking to the Chronicle after the meeting, Cllr Tod said: "Firstly setting a really high financial target drives it (Station Approach) down the direction of overdevelopment, and secondly there is no guarantee we will be getting that income, we need to make difficult decisions about cost that the council needs to make to be in a strong financial position.

"They need to get on with it, they're ignoring the financial pressures they are under, their parking review did not recognise the council's financial position, we are running out of time to manage it in a measured way if they leave it too long they might make short term decisions that are bad for the council."