Unsightly building an inconvenience (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Unsightly building an inconvenience

3:04pm Wednesday 17th June 2009

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SIR — One can only wonder what the Mayor of Winchester’s thoughts were when he found a gents lavatory actually attached to the sidewall of Abbey House, his elegant official residence, backing onto The Broadway.

The Mayor would have also found a ladies lavatory built in the garden of the residence, albeit the back garden.

Winchester City Council tells us on their website that there are just five cities in the country having official residences for their Mayors, and that Winchester is justly proud to be one of this select group!

However, not proud enough to prevent this crass and unbelievable development of a large public convenience in the grounds of Abbey House, and so ruining the setting of this attractive and historic building.

The beautiful Abbey Gardens have not been spared either. There, the new gents lavatory is too big, too obvious, standing out in all its mock Tudor glory.

The Broadway scene, such a special part of the Winchester, is now irrevocably spoilt.

Passers-by will see only the ladies’ lavatory, in such a central position, the building blocking any view.

Seeing a public convenience, even through wonderful old shining black railings, fails to add charm to any setting.

It is a pity the big old tree growing here was recently cut down, as its growth would have helped to hide these unwelcome new buildings.

So all we can hope for now is that as many trees as possible will be planted to replace the old tree and hide this miserable complex.

Jill Hancock, Baybridge Lane, Owslebury.

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