WINCHESTER City Council really is drinking in the Last Chance Saloon when it comes to Silver Hill, also known as Saxon Gate and the pithy Central Winchester Regeneration project.

No space here to go into the history of the redevelopment whose roots stretch as far back as the late1980s with Stagecoach’s first moves to redevelop its bus station; save to say the scheme has had more than its share of false starts and mishaps.

So we wearily welcome the latest news that the council has put forward outline plans based on its Central Winchester Regeneration Area Supplementary Planning Document. Some people are still unhappy. But as we have said before a perfect scheme is impossible and the ‘best is the enemy of the good’.

It would be helpful if there was realism across the board. For instance, there is not going to be a two-year archaeological dig as there was in 1987-88 at The Brooks unless an extremely wealthy philanthropist comes on board.

But the city council must get this scheme right. Another false start and the city’s reputation will be damaged for ever.