A MAJOR revival for St Giles Hill in Winchester has been delayed, a meeting heard.

City councillor Charles Radcliffe, A Liberal Democrat, launched a campaign earlier this year to reverse the decline in the hillside park over recent decades.

His ideas have included better managing trees to open up views to the south and west from the top and improving the footpaths and boosting biodiversity.

He told the recent Winchester Town Forum, which comprises councillors from the city wards: "I'm sorry to say progress has been slow."

A tree survey has been completed but the working of a five-year plan is "way off" he said.

"There are severe ongoing staff constraints. We don't have a draft management plan or even a date. Officers are doing all they can."

Meanwhile, Cllr Chris Edwards, Lib Dem, reporting to the forum on its work in the city centre, said new seating and litter bins were being introduced.

Completion of the revamp of St Maurice's Covert has been delayed but it should be completed this financial year, said Cllr Edwards.

Work was being done to find a new location for the commercial bin store currently behind Godbegot House on St George's Street, which he said was a "bit of a disgrace".

There has been a "blitz on graffiti" with anti-graffiti paint at the Chesil Multi-storey Car Park and extra CCTV was being installed.

Cllr Edwards said the cleaning and maintenance of public toilets was being "stepped up, whilst a strategy for refurbishment or replacement is being being developed".

Jet cleaning was being undertaken on the alleyways off the High Street and there will be increased weed spraying after Hampshire County Council cut spraying by 50 per cent, he said.

Cllr John Tippett-Cooper, also a Lib Dem, said the waxing of the statue of King Alfred has been completed although cracks in his cloak were being monitored.

The restoration of the wall by the Nuns Stream, which collapsed in July last year was, being arrranged. There are only a few specialist firms capable of doing the work.

The pigeon proofing of inside Hyde Gate is now working better, he said.

Thw town forum has 14 members; currently all bar one are Lib Dems.