Winchester’s a place sprinkled in history, class and beauty, but the tumultuous recent upheaval of the city’s much loved High Street has caused a trickling irritation to my eyes and at the same time to most Wintonian inner city dwellers.

First and foremost, the now removed Horse and Rider bronze statue (for the time being at least due to construction work) used to simmer its presence reverently outside Winchester Crown Court but now the monument appears to have only served as a demolition derby example for more destruction work to follow suit in the city centre.

Strolling on and The Old Guildhall clock situated above the now Lloyds TSB Bank, one of the city’s most recognisable elder statesman looks a shadow of its former glories, with it being bound to boarded up bedlam.

The cause- suggested is deterioration to its once seamless clock face, but surely it’s time for the city council to step up their building renovation on the structure instead of wasting glorified cabinet meetings on unrealistic goal setting.

Kelsie Learney’s new Liberal Democrat army now have a chance to act sooner rather than later though, but contingency plans to cure the city centre’s current intolerable plight need to come to fruition as soon as possible and before some of the councils other vested interests in my view.

Back to the High Street and a glance down the brigade of independent shops and outlets, typically filled with custom have of late been interrupted raucously.

Shopping establishments brings visitors and income to the city, but it could be seen as contradictory from the council as by prolonging a fleet of construction works surely will have a devastating effect on the city’s tourism as we work our way into the peak of summer?

Lately, it seems like every time I or one of my friends takes the walk down the High Street we comment on the unpleasant, loud and unphotographic image of Winchester’s city centre.

Diggers, building material, covered up historical monuments, barriers, signs and restrictions, may all be necessary to improve the city’s inner infrastructure but there never appears to be any rest bite to these ongoing scorns of inconvenience.

I’m not sure when there will be an end to the continued work leaving a blemish incumbently over Winchester, but what is crucial is that if and when the work is finished it remains in keeping with the city’s pristine heritage.