Brave strategic decision (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Brave strategic decision

3:14pm Wednesday 17th June 2009 in Your Say

SIR — Notwithstanding Barbara Guthrie’s clarification that the Bushfield Campaign Group sees the proposed ‘knowledge park’ as “the least worst option” as opposed to offering outright support, the point made by Steve Melligan for the Church Commissioners is important (Chronicle letters, June 11).

Much of the downland will be preserved as part of the scheme as well as doing away with the eyesore that is the former barracks site.

It has been like that for years and no doubt will remain so unless and until it is developed.

During the consultations on the Local Development Framework, the university encouraged the city council to include a knowledge park in its core strategy, and we remain committed to playing as full a part as possible in its development if the proposal should come to fruition.

I understand entirely that there are different views on where best a knowledge park should be located, but the principle is, I believe, widely supported in the business community.

The city council has taken a brave strategic decision to enable a commercial solution that both underpins the city’s economic sustainability, and protects wonderful countryside in perpetuity.

Tommy Geddes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Winchester.