AS a former conservative councillor for Winklebury and Manydown, I campaigned hard to get the best for all of the residents in the ward.

The regeneration of the Winklebury Centre is a once in a generation opportunity to transform this area to ensure that the residents of the Winklebury Centre and surrounding areas get the type of facilities and houses that they so desperately need and derve.

The residents of Winklebury will not forgive all the various stakeholders in this project if it is felt that their desires and needs for good community facilities, ample parking for the medical centre and sufficient space for local businesses for the area, are run roughshod over and ignored.  

SEE ALSO: Winklebury Regeneration: Cabinet told to engage with Vivid amidst reservations from ward councillors

I am all for ensuring that the vital investment in this area starts sooner rather than later, but I would love to know what significant steps and changes Vivid and its partners have made to the Winklebury Regeneration Project.

It is vital the review, that I supported in council, and which received cross party support, has actually been fully carried out. It was agreed in council that the project would be robustly reviewed before the planning application is submitted, this democratic process must be fully adhered to.

I believe that significant changes have been made by Vivid and its partners to the plans following on from the council's motion, but I'm very intrigued to know whether this includes any community facilities at all, or whether the pub or the church are now included in the plans? Or whether the future-proofing concerns of the medical centre, with the flats over it, and limited parking spaces is going to be addressed?

READ MORE: ‘They’re not respecting democratic process’ – Councillor criticises homebuilder as it prepares to submit planning application for regeneration project

In regards to the the time constraints, due to funding from Home England, (that to my mind was never mentioned in any past community discussions), this should surely only concentrate minds even harder to ensure that the review, agreed in council, is expedited to ensure that we get the very best deal for Winklebury and all its residents.

I'd also like to know whether the outcome of any review will be made public before any planning application for the regeneration project is submitted? And will the full council be able to debate the results of the review before any live planning application is submitted or will the submitted plans be published conveniently after today's full council meeting?

Sean Dillow, former Conservative Cllr for Winklebury and Manydown

Winklebury

Basingstoke 

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this article - we appreciate your support.

Subscribing means you have unrestricted access to the latest news and reader rewards - all with an advertising-light website.

Don't take my word for it – subscribe here to see for yourself.

Looking to advertise an event? Then check out our free events guide.

Want to keep up with the latest news and join in the debate? You can find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.