Latest news with #WinchesterCityCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Winchester centre's pool partially open as roof fix continues
A main swimming pool that was shut when problems were found in the roof of a sports centre has partially 50m (164ft) eight-lane pool at Winchester Sport & Leisure Park closed temporarily just over a week Everyone Active said sessions in the main pool were "currently limited" with swimmers advised to check the centre's app or website for availability. Its 20m (66ft) teaching pool remains fully centre said repairs to the section of roofing over the main pool were ongoing and "we anticipate that we will be able to reopen more areas of the main pool later this week". The leisure centre, managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Winchester City Council on Bar End Road, opened in May 2021. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents 'angry' as large tree gets protection
Residents have said they feel "extremely angry" after a council voted unanimously to protect a controversial oak tree. Winchester City Council received an intention to fell the more than 40-year-old tree from neighbours who raised concerns that it could damage their properties. Speaking at a council planning meeting, the local authority's tree officer John Bartlett said there was "no evidence of actual damage being caused". The council approved a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which legally protects it from damage or destruction. Mr Bartlett said it contributed meaningfully to local biodiversity and visual amenity, adding that its ecological and landscape value outweighed the reported nuisance issues. The oak, which is situated in a conservation area, is located in the garden of a home on Canon Street, close to Winchester Cathedral. Dr Sandra Steel lives in a home on the adjacent St Swithun Street and spoke for residents at the planning meeting. "The spreading roots cause structural damage," she said. Adding that "our historic houses are particularly vulnerable". Some of the properties on the road date back to the 17th Century and Ms Steel said there was evidence of "cracks in garden walls". She added that it was increasing the insurance of the local houses. Despite these claims the council approved the protection order and said further evidence would need to be provided to consider the felling of the tree. On hearing that verdict, Ms Steel said: "You are waiting for our houses to fall down I guess." Speaking after the meeting she said they all "feel extremely angry" and called it "quite ridiculous". "An oak tree belongs an open area or a forest, not in gardens of historic houses," Ms Steel added. At least nine residents raised concerns about the tree's proximity and size after they said it had grown by 6ft (1.8m) in the last year. They said that the height and mass of the tree combined with unpredictable weather patterns could lead to serious damage to properties or injury of residents. They argued that any sustainable management plan would require pruning on a five-year cycle, which is seen as an unfair and impractical burden on residents. The objectors added that the tree, which they claim blocks light and sheds a substantial amount of leaves and debris. Council said it is willing to accept further reductions to previous cut points on a 5–10 year cycle to improve light penetration to surrounding properties. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Pair guilty of cutting down Sycamore Gap tree Plymouth tree felling fiasco cost more than £3.3m Anger after dozens of trees felled along railway line Winchester City Council
BBC News
11-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Winchester residents 'angry' as a large tree gets protection
Residents have said they feel "extremely angry" after a council voted unanimously to protect a controversial oak City Council received an intention to fell the more than 40-year-old tree from neighbours who raised concerns that it could damage their at a council planning meeting, the local authority's tree officer John Bartlett said there was "no evidence of actual damage being caused".The council approved a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which legally protects it from damage or destruction. Mr Bartlett said it contributed meaningfully to local biodiversity and visual amenity, adding that its ecological and landscape value outweighed the reported nuisance oak, which is situated in a conservation area, is located in the garden of a home on Canon Street, close to Winchester Cathedral. Dr Sandra Steel lives in a home on the adjacent St Swithun Street and spoke for residents at the planning meeting."The spreading roots cause structural damage," she that "our historic houses are particularly vulnerable".Some of the properties on the road date back to the 17th Century and Ms Steel said there was evidence of "cracks in garden walls".She added that it was increasing the insurance of the local these claims the council approved the protection order and said further evidence would need to be provided to consider the felling of the hearing that verdict, Ms Steel said: "You are waiting for our houses to fall down I guess."Speaking after the meeting she said they all "feel extremely angry" and called it "quite ridiculous"."An oak tree belongs an open area or a forest, not in gardens of historic houses," Ms Steel added. At least nine residents raised concerns about the tree's proximity and size after they said it had grown by 6ft (1.8m) in the last said that the height and mass of the tree combined with unpredictable weather patterns could lead to serious damage to properties or injury of argued that any sustainable management plan would require pruning on a five-year cycle, which is seen as an unfair and impractical burden on objectors added that the tree, which they claim blocks light and sheds a substantial amount of leaves and said it is willing to accept further reductions to previous cut points on a 5–10 year cycle to improve light penetration to surrounding properties. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Winchester council rejects alcohol bid for Motocross Grand Prix
Alcohol will not be sold at this year's British Motocross Grand Prix after police hit out at a "lawless" previous event, a round of the FIM Motocross World Championship, is due to take place on the weekend of 21 June at the Matterley Basin in Winchester, Winchester City Council has refused the the temporary events notices (TEN) it needs to sell alcohol across the site.A premises licence application has now been submitted which, if granted on time, would mean alcohol and entertainment could be provided. However, the public consultation ends just three days before the event event is set to attract between 7,000 and 10,000 motocross fans from across the TEN applications were submitted on 22 May for a main bar tent, an arena relief bar, a paddock relief bar, a VIP guest hospitality marquee and an entertainment area. 'No effective changes' Hampshire and Isle of Wight police objected and said similar events, which have been happening for more than 10 years in Winchester, had been a "significant concern".According to the force, the concerns were raised to the event organisers "with little to no effective changes year on year," resulting in numerous breaches of conditions and "no lessons seemingly learned".It said at the 2024 Motocross of Nations event young people were seen drinking alcohol, fireworks were fired next to people without security and fire measures, and dangerous driving around the site was police said there were several licensing breaches and three crimes reported, including the assault of a staff member who was knocked unconscious for 15 also died at the event, with a preliminary cause of death determined to be MDMA toxicity and biventricular cardiac licensing sub-committee indicated that, out of the five TEN applications, only one could be considered - the main considering it, the committee, decided the application posed a safety risk for attendees and rejected it. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Decision on Swanmore's cottage demolition plan delayed
The decision on a plan to demolish a cottage that hundreds of people have opposed will not be taken until at least owner of the building has applied to knock it down and replace it with two new two-storey homes with parking in Swanmore, opposed to the project told Winchester City Council that it dates back to the 16th Century but Historic England experts said it was first built in the mid-19th online petition has been signed by about 900 people and another 200 people have submitted objections to the local authority. A document submitted by a council case officer shows the application will not be decided until at least 18 grandson of the house's previous owners set up the online petition because he said they sold it believing that it would be lived in by the new owners. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
