I MUST congratulate the City of Winchester for a model example of a meaningless survey on the Station Approach.

The four development principles mean precisely nothing. Who is going to say they don’t want, ‘a connected sustainable development’, ‘a development for Winchester’s future’ or ‘high quality design’? And if they did would anyone propose a low-quality design, disconnected unsustainable development, or a development for Winchester’s past. And just what do these things actually mean? And if this how they are ‘co-creating with residents, businesses and stakeholders’, I don’t have much faith in the outcome.

When we get to detail, we are asked if we want green space or better lighting. It is just possible that people don’t want these things but if they did would anyone take any notice?

No doubt, when the survey is finished, the City will claim they have had a successful public consultation and that this will give them carte blanche to make the kind of mess they came up with last time.

READ MORE: Winchester Station Approach redevelopment consultation launched

Where are the critical consultations on size, bulk and character? It is possible to consult on these things and there are specialist firms that do so. One was very successfully commissioned for Silver Hill at considerable cost to the public purse. Have we heard about that again since it has been decided to sell the whole lot off?

Professor Robert Adam PhD,

Robert Adam Architectural Consultancy Ltd,

Crawley