CAMPAIGNERS against plans to transfer the River Park Leisure Centre in Winchester are hinting that further legal action is to follow.

Amid chaotic scenes city councillors approved the disposal of the site including the skate park and bowls club on a 150-year lease to Southampton University.

A large group of supporters of the Friends of River Park attended the Cabinet meeting in the Walton Room at the Guildhall last week delaying the start and then disrupting the start by chanting "shame on you". The police were called but no arrests were made.

The transfer decision was taken by the Liberal Democrat-controlled Cabinet meeting last Wednesday just as the Chronicle went to press.

READ MORE HERE: Police called for Cabinet meeting that decided disposal of River Park Leisure Centre

The Friends of River Park issued a statement disputing the council's legal stance on transferring the land which the Friends say is protected by a legal covenant when the land was taken on by the forerunner of today's council in 1902.

In a detailed argument the Friends stated: "It goes without saying that all rights continue to be reserved by Friends of River Park, including in relation to any application for Judicial Review. "

The Friends had delayed the decision by threatening legal action over the lack of notice of the council plans. Subsequently notices were placed in the Chronicle.

Many of its supporters are calling for the council to undertake a six-month public consultation now on the future of the site, with alternative ideas including a Lido. The council says there will be time for consultation once the university has taken over the site.

The Cabinet heard from council leader Lucille Thompson that there was no statutory requirement for a public consultation over a leaseback agreement.

The university wants to expand its School of Art campus on Park Avenue, as well as developing the former North Walls police station site.

Conservative councillor Sue Cook attempted to have the meeting postponed so a larger room could be used. She said the meeting could have been transferred to the Bapsy Hall. She said: "Today's events could have been so different but sadly they were not prepared to listen or reason. For me a very sad and totally unacceptable chain of events and this could have been avoided if certain members were willing to listen and not have their own agenda."

In a late change to the original plans the Cabinet agreed the skate park will be leased back to the city council.

SEE ALSO: Councillor storms out of Cabinet meeting after another councillor was "rude"

Cllr Kelsie Learney said: "The skate park was never at risk. The terms in the lease do protect it. The university is keen to see the facility retained. They are committed to retain the skate park and never had any plans to remove the facility. It is a facility to attract potential students and an opportunity for young people to see what is going on in the university campus. We need to demonstrate a clearer level of commitment to the skate park and have agreed a lease back of the skate park."

She added: "We need to take advantage of opportunities that arise not finding excuses for not making decisions."

Cllr Learney said it was wrong to say the public would have no access to the site for 35 years."The site can be used for tertiary education for 35 years but there is no impact on public access to the site."

Lib Dem councillor Paula Ferguson said: "This will be an incredible zero-carbon building that is open, that will have a performance space, exhibition space and cafe where people can sit, where people can meet where they can read, and display some of the city's rich history. It is difficult for people to see that now."

 

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