SIR: The situation regarding the proposed new multi-storey car park in Barfield Close has become very messy to say the least. Having completely ignored the protests of local residents and others equally exorcised, and bulldozed ahead with their seriously flawed planning application granted on the nod by Winchester City Council, judge and jury, poacher and gamekeeper some might say over their own submission, they have now filed yet another version.

To make matters worse the new one is only marginally different from the previous one and which still doesn’t address the major concerns expressed on many occasions since this proposal was first mooted, although to be fair updated documents are still being added to the portal. Not surprisingly many objections have been again publicly filed not just by local residents but others further afield but nonetheless affected and who see this as a totally unacceptable intrusion on the Site of Special Scientific Interest and South Downs National Park. Work continues on the foundations, and the complaints about the noise and physical (vibration) effects of the works on Domum Road are already being voiced and submitted formally to the contractors.

Despite the High Court having granted permission for a judicial review of the original planning application, there being sound legal reasons for doing so, WCC spurred on no doubt by their political leadership has continued to work the site at risk to the public purse and up until now refused to engage publicly in arbitration in the hope of finding a mutually acceptable solution, the bones of which are already in the public domain. Arrogant and hardly democratic they be, by virtue of their total disregard for the opinions of those whom they represent and clearly unprepared to consider public opinion particularly if it does not suit them. Even more galling is the fact that we have to resort to media such as the Hampshire Chronicle to express opinions that are conveniently ignored when submitted through the supposed correct channels. As rate-payers we deserve better.

Kenneth Day,

Domum Road,

Winchester