CIVIC chiefs are pressing on with their efforts to boost the High Street in Winchester including a light festival in the New Year.

They also aim to energise the Busket Lane area at the back of the bus station in conjunction with the revamping of the Friarsgate Surgery area.

The GP surgery is due to be demolished and Busket Lane will be rebranded as Busket Yard and turned into a public space for events and performances.

Sue Robbins, corporate head of engagement, told the business and housing policy committee about the High Street Priority Plan.

Officers are in discussions about the light festival to be held in February.

 

The new entrance from Busket Lane into the bus station site

The new entrance from Busket Lane into the bus station site

 

Ms Robbins said: "We are working on Busket Yard on how we can activate that space and talking to various partners on what we could have there as events or activities to attract people to it."

Contrary to some opinion vacancy rates in Winchester High Street shops are relatively low. Nationally it is 14.5 per cent but 10.3 per cent locally. Pre-Covid the figure was 6.3 per cent.

Ms Robbins acknowledged that some businesses have closed, but added: "A few stores have moved taking on better locations or larger spaces which shows there is a still commitment to being in the city."

The Chronicle reported that Dinghams Cookshop is closing in the New Year because the rents on its council-owned property are too high. The council has also been criticised for moving to evict a Chinese food shop and gift shop, both said to be profitable, from Kings Walk. Neither fit into the artistic vibe the council wants to create.

 

The area between Busket Lane and the former Friarsgate surgery, at the bus station. To be part of new public open space

The area between Busket Lane and the former Friarsgate surgery, at the bus station. To be part of new public open space

 

Conservative councillor Hugh Lumby described Busket Yard as Winchester's "best-kept secret".

Cllr Kelsie Learney, portfolio holder for housing and asset management, said of the demolition of Friarsgate: "We have started consultation and it has proved to be more complicated than we thought, proving that 'Chinese walls' are genuine. We cannot tell our own planners what to do.

"It (demolition) will go to planning after Christmas and a couple of months after that we will be ready to go. It will link into Busket Yard and transform the space. I have been asked to keep the brambles though."

Ms Robbins said officers were looking at addressing concerns about the shabby appearance of parts of the centre.

Other ideas includes jazzing up the dead space of the Debenhams department store which have been empty for several months.