A CITY councillor is pressuring planning chiefs to sort the former depot site in Bishop's Waltham.

Ward representative Cllr David McLean expressed his frustration at a Winchester cabinet meeting on July 8.

He said that the site was vacant for ten months before lockdown and that something needs to be done.

"'Can we in Bishop's Waltham please have a definitive start date for the depot site? We visited the site some time ago with Cllr Learney and were assured all was well and progressing.

"Can the cabinet member assure me this has not fallen between the lines? We want to know how this happened, and how nothing has happened in ten months."

The depot covers 0.95 acres and is situated in a former quarry off Lower Lane.

In the past it has been used as a base to store refuse trucks and has previously been considered for a number of things, including a new fire station and housing.

Three new units are set to be built following a £1 million investment from the council.

Cabinet member for housing and asset management, Cllr Kelsie Learney, said: "The Bishop's Waltham redevelopment of new industrial units remains a priority scheme for the council.

"Unfortunately, the current Covid-19 situation has had an impact on the ability to progress the scheme.

"A key piece of work by the electrical supplier SSE to alter the existing incoming supply was due to be undertaken in March could not take place whilst SSE remained focused on emergency works only.

"SSE are beginning to carry out non-essential work, and are due to return to site at the end of August. Following this the demolition of the existing buildings will commence, with the construction of the new units expected to start in October 2020, with completion Summer 2021."

Cllr McLean also said the current Liberal Democrat administration had delayed the plans put in place by the previous Conservative chiefs.

However Cllr Learney denied this, saying her party had in fact sped up the process.