SIR: The current Winchester council should perhaps change its name as it is neither liberal nor democratic.

The “Putinesque” management of the council meeting on Wednesday March 9, which ended in the Cabinet's decision to approve the plan to sell off a large section of the North Walls Recreation Ground to Southampton University, is proof of the way they work. In secret and with public consultations after the decision has been made.

Their “liberality” was clearly seen when they called in the police to evict about 50 concerned residents from the meeting. They followed this up and said that if order was not maintained they would also evict those who had booked to put forward alternative views, mostly residents, and the meeting would be held behind closed doors. The police duly arrived but took no action.

A truly wonderful vision of democracy at work.

Hampshire Chronicle: The River Park Leisure Centre and surrounding area

The meeting finally went ahead with a couple of “heavies” sorry, security men, who were described as being “colleagues” and three policemen barring the door.

One of the speakers, Sam Feltham, offered very credible alternative proposals to the cabinet. His last comment (after being told that he was about to overrun his three minutes) was that “This is why we need blue-sky thinking for Winchester. Putting the blinkers on and only looking at one option will stifle the possibility of us reaching our potential.”

Cllr Caroline Horrill also addressed the Glib Dems and asked for a six-month consultation period with residents.

The cabinet listened then reverted to their version of democracy and taking no notice of what they had heard, replaced their blinkers and agreed to sell the leisure centre to Southampton University, even though, as Cllr Kelsie Learney informed us “… we have not measured the site …”

Many of us think that this is the time to give true democracy a chance.

Bill Hoade,

Worthy Lane,

Winchester

 

 

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