The Issues

IT’S NOT YOURS TO SELL!

  • Winchester City Council proposes to dispose of a large section (around 17%) of North Walls Recreation Ground, or River Park, to the University of Southampton, without any public consultation and with an agreement which may turn out to be unlawful. 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. 

KNOCK IT DOWN!

  • 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.

LOOK AFTER IT!

  • 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. 

WE DESERVE TRANSPARENCY!

  • Winchester City Council is failing to provide any level of transparency about their intentions, current dialogues and the parties with whom they are engaged in their proposals to dispose of the RPLC site. We are all still in the dark about what is proposed with regard to the consultant-led ‘improvements’ to the Recreation Ground.

 

The land should remain in public ownership for public recreation, and be looked after properly

 

How you can help

Fund raising

Give to our Action Fund. You can contribute on our JustGiving page. We have already caused the Council to backtrack on their original, unlawful decision. They then made the same decision again, which means that it is likely that the RPLC site may be lost for good, depriving us of the opportunity to create something wonderful for people to enjoy – a place to play. We are seeking funds to protect RPLC and the Recreation Ground for Winchester, its residents and visitors. Thank you to all who have donated so far both for their donations and their kind messages of support.

Spread the word

Share this website by using the link: https://www.riverparkwinchester.org
Visit, like and share our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RiverParkWinchester

Use our Twitter handle: @FriendsofRiver4

Sign up to Friends of River Park

Email us to offer help or suggestions: friends@riverparkwinchester.org

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