What are the proposals for River Park?
Winchester City Council (WCC) proposes to dispose of a large section of North Walls Recreation Ground, or River Park, (former leisure centre and a large part of the current car park).
Why Protect River Park?
The whole site is a valuable resource for leisure, sport, health and fitness events and wider community use. Each year River Park plays host to some hugely successful festivals and events.
What can be done better?
Winchester City Council (WCC) are failing in their duty to maintain the Recreation Ground and its facilities to a standard which is safe and appropriate for public use. Additionally, the former leisure centre is derelict and a magnet for anti-social behaviour and vandalism it should be demolished.
A few things YOU SHOULD KNOW
Leisure Centre building is a derelict hazard
The current Leisure Centre building is derelict. It represents a health and safety hazard, as well as being an eyesore. It needs to be demolished, irrespective of what the intention is for the land. Currently, taxpayers are footing the bill for security, insurance and minimal maintenance of the building, as well as running the risk of massive inflation of the cost of demolition. Despite rumour, Winchester City Council is committed to meeting the cost of the demolition of the building.
Protect River Park
In order to protect it, we are now extending the ambit of our operation to the whole of the Recreation Ground to ensure that it is properly maintained and managed by Winchester City Council and that no inappropriate development is allowed to take place.
Ensure Proper Maintenance
Winchester City Council are failing in their duty to maintain the Recreation Ground and its facilities to a standard which is safe and appropriate for public use. Current facilities are not fit for purpose: for example, the pavilion, the roadway, the failure to enforce the guidance for third party use and rectify of damage done to the parkland following such use.
Stop the Disposal of Land
Winchester City Council proposes to dispose of a large section (around 17%) of River Park, without any public consultation. Winchester City Council does not own this land, but merely acts as a trustee for the residents of Winchester. If the disposal is successful, this will deny the people of Winchester rights over the land which has been publicly owned and protected for the public’s recreational use since 1902.
Protect the Covenant
The whole area currently has the legal protection of a Covenant, dating from 1902 when the then owner passed the land to the then Council (now WCC), restricting the use to ”public recreation and open space’ for the benefit of residents and visitors. The area also has the statutory protection of the Public Health Act, 1875 and more recently Local Government Act, 1972.
Demolish the Leisure Centre Building
The former Leisure Centre building is derelict. It represents a health and safety hazard, as well as being an eyesore. It needs to be demolished, irrespective of what the intention is for the land. Currently, taxpayers are footing the bill for security, insurance and minimal maintenance of the building, as well as running the risk of massive inflation of the cost of demolition.
Encourage more use of River Park
The site is well used by many, ranging from dog walkers and fitness groups throughout the day, to school children before and after school, to families throughout the week, sports teams and clubs in the evenings and weekends as well as visitors to the city, and it hosts many, varied, community events throughout the year. More people should be encouraged to use the area.
About River Park
River Park, formerly North Walls Recreation Ground, is a 32 hectare Recreation Ground in the heart of Winchester that is a vital green space, natural history and wildlife corridor for locals and visitors alike.
Where Your Voice Matters
Friends of River Park, a group set up in November 2021 to protect the River Park Leisure Centre site from development for any purposes other than public recreational use. We enjoy wide public support from Winchester residents and visitors to River Park, with over 1,690 on our list of supporters.