CIVIC chiefs have been delighted by the public response to a unique community initiative in Winchester.

The Winchester suburb of Fulflood is the first place in the 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' scheme in Hampshire.

It aims to find the best way to “reduce city centre traffic, support healthier lifestyle choices and invest in infrastructure to support sustainable growth”.

The city council is asking Fulflood residents for their ideas.

There was a big turnout for the first event at St Paul's church hall on February 27 with a second planned for Ashburton Hall, Elizabeth II Court, Sussex Street, SO32 8BH - 4pm-8pm on Monday March 18.

READ MORE HERE: Ways to improve 'liveability' in a Winchester suburb

Council leader Martin Tod said he was delighted by the turnout on February 27: "We are holding these community workshops to capture people's concerns; where it is hard to cross the road, where people feel unsafe, where traffic speeds are too high.

"This is a pilot. We will aim to roll it out. This is the start of something, the first one in Hampshire. We are hoping we can proceed with it at pace and help improve our wonderful city and make it an even better place to live."

Cllr Tod said any resulting proposal would use CIL money, paid by developers.

"There has been huge development in the St Paul ward, such as on Chilbolton Avenue and the police headquarters. West End Terrace has not changed even though there are now hundreds of people crossing the road.

"Hopefully we will see proposals for Chilbolton Avenue. There is much more traffic and yet the road has not changed. There is now more pressure on Westgate School and Cheriton Road."

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The initiative fits in with the Vision for Winchester discussed at the town forum.

The 'Liveable Neighbourhoods' is a relatively low-cost idea that has local people's ideas at its heart. The vision aims to empower the community sauch the work restoring St Giles Hill being done by a charity, the Friends of St Giles Hill.

Cllr Kelsie Learney said the council has been surprised when the Vision of Winchester was being drawn up in 2020-2021: "The key message was people wanted us to do lots of little things. They were not impressed by major change but lots of little things that would make residents' lives better."

She cited Kings Walk which the council has revamped. "Relatively small changes can transform an area and make a difference to how people use them."

Cllr Jamie Scott said what he liked was that this Vision was not just gathering dust as unwanted leaflets but was evolving, allowing people to "see something tangible happening to the city."