Deadline looms for people to object to River Park land transfer

Campaigners are urging people to contact the council after it advertised the disposal of land around the centre including the skate park and Riverside Indoor Bowling Club. The deadline is 4pm, Friday February 4.

The council was forced to place a public notice in the Chronicle after a legal challenge from the Friends of River Park because of the lack of any public consultation. Civic chiefs had proposed transferring the land to Southampton University for it to expand its campus at nearby School of Art on Park Avenue.

READ MORE HERE: Petition to save Winchester Skate Park gathers thousands of signatures

Among the people who have responded have been campaigners calling for the former leisure centre to be transformed into an outdoor lido. Users of the skate park have also launched a campaign fearing that it will not fit into the university. A petition on the 38degrees website has attracted more than 2,050 names in around two weeks.

City MP Steve Brine said this week: “Winchester has got so much on its plate right now, recovering from the pandemic and attempting to move Silver Hill forward.

“Clearly the River Park site needs a plan - it’s an eyesore - but it should be one properly consulted on in a way which takes my constituents with it and any deal with Southampton University must fit into a vision for Winchester. To rush into a five-year exclusive deal now, via a tick box consultation to please the lawyers, in the pursuit of doing ‘something’ would be a historic mistake and potentially threaten the health of some of our best loved institutions.

“Time for WCC to take pause for thought and be a lot more strategic.”

A new group, the Friends of River Park has formally objected, stating " The Friends of River Park strenuously object to the council’s proposals to lease any part of the River Park Leisure Centre site to the University of Southampton, or to any other private, commercial entity. The residents of Winchester should decide what use or uses to which the site may be put, following the de-commissioning of the Leisure Centre building (including, for instance, the possibility of returning it to use as parkland). "

The group says it has been a public park since 1902 and should remain so, as the city has a shortage of open space.

It is calling for people to register their objections by emailing: CKnight@winchester.gov.uk.

Meanwhile the three city councillors who represent the River Park area have issued a statement.
Kathleen Becker, Paula Ferguson and John Tippett-Cooper, St Bartholomew ward councillors said: “We love the skatepark in River Park.
“Paula’s children used and loved the skatepark as teenagers, while John and Kathleen have little ones that love using their scooters in there (and are always welcomed and “looked out for” by older skaters). It’s one of the very best community spaces in Winchester.

“In November 2021, at the Cabinet meeting dealing with the River Park Leisure Centre site plans, on behalf of St Barts councillors, we made clear that we opposed the inclusion of the skatepark in the lease with the University of Southampton. 
“The lease does include measures to protect the skatepark - the University have to maintain it under the terms of the lease. In addition, the University has said publicly that they are very keen to improve and enhance the skate park and want to involve skaters, parents and other users in the design of the skatepark area in future.
“However, the protections for the skatepark need to go further. We consider that Winchester City Council and the University need to absolutely guarantee the future of the skatepark. Many others agree - we are very grateful to everyone who has signed the skatepark petition, who have shone a spotlight on what hundreds of families in Winchester know - that the skatepark is one of the most loved, popular and brilliant spaces for young people in our city.

SEE ALSO: Civic chiefs rescind proposal to transfer River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester
“We trust the University of Southampton in their vision to work in partnership with Winchester City Council to replace the decaying River Park Leisure Centre building with a sustainably-built facility that they promise will provide much needed community space for music performance, library facilities and a cafe. The partnership creates the potential for huge investment in our City, as well as creating many jobs and opportunities for young people in particular.  However, we consider that the future of the skatepark needs to be guaranteed.
“We’ve been calling for protection of the skatepark since the proposal was first made public. We have insisted that Cabinet revisit the inclusion of the skatepark in the lease to the University of Southampton and take steps to guarantee the future of the skatepark, and will continue to do so.”

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Kimberley Barber