Cllr John Tippett-Cooper - Winchester City Council

22/06/2026

With the rise in temperature this week Wi******er City Council increased its existing support to make sure no one needs to sleep out on the street during the heat. Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) is activated and will be in place while temperatures remain high.

WCC work in partnership with the hardworking outreach teams at local charity Trinity Wi******er on the SWEP provision.

If you're concerned about someone who you see sleeping outside, please visit the StreetLink website so that WCC can take action to help: https://thestreetlink.org.uk/

You can also report concerns by emailing [email protected]

Thank you

22/06/2026

CITY COUNCIL TAKING ACTION IN THE HEAT 🥵☀️☀️🌍

At the last full council in May, I asked what Wi******er City Council could do to support residents in times of extreme heat. Outlined below is a summary of the answer.

Heat waves are and will become longer and more frequent in the UK -this is an immediate and direct impact of climate change on us here in Wi******er and we will need to adapt.

Identifying and supporting residents on this issue is on the agenda at this week's Community Buildings Forum (which is taking place on 25 June) and WCC are exploring hosting ‘cool spaces’ – similar in nature to the warm spaces we’ve seen pop up in cold weather. That is, somewhere to go that is relatively cool with cold drinks available.

In respect of our vulnerable residents who sleep rough, we offer outreach support everyday, inclusive of the weekend, where water and suncream is offered and respite is available on the day at Trinity.

WCC also activate its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in times of hot weather. It was activated for two days in May and will do be again, as necessary throughout the summer.

If any residents require advice on how to keep their homes cool in summer, WCC’s wonderful housing team are happy to provide such advice.

16/06/2026

It really doesn’t make sense setting aside £500k on a legal claim that appears destined to fail while at the same time cutting off vital bus services 👇

We need buses, not barristers.

Hampshire County Council is prepared to spend up to £500,000 on a judicial review of local government reorganisation but not prepared to ensure that children have a safe way to get to school.

We fought it last year, and we will fight it for academic years to come - keep the Henry Beaufort School bus!

15/06/2026

Refugee week in Wi******er - pen a postcard of welcome!

Very proud of the kind, supportive and welcoming community in Wi******er - nice idea from Wi******er City of Sanctuary below 👇

This week is Refugee Week, a cultural and arts festival in the UK and around the world running from 15th - 21st June 2026, that celebrates refugees, their contributions, courage and resilience.

This year the theme for Refugee Week is courage. It takes courage to start anew. Here is a postcard with a message from a member of our sanctuary community welcoming people seeking sanctuary to Wi******er.

We have all done new things before, joined a new school or college, started a new job, maybe moved to a new area. It can be isolating to move somewhere new leaving all you know behind. We try to provide welcome to people seeking sanctuary and thank our fantastic community in Wi******er that welcomes people here.

We are fortunate that Wi******er is full of spaces of sanctuary and has been incredibly welcoming to people seeking sanctuary.

We ask you to imagine being in the shoes of a person seeking sanctuary and to think about what you would share with them. What makes you feel welcome here in Wi******er? What makes you feel safe? What do you enjoy doing here? Where do you like to visit? Please share your ideas and suggestions.

If you are a local school, community group, organisation or business that wants to pen a postcard to a new arrival or someone that has been here for some time but who may not feel welcome still, please get in contact with us via [email protected] with ‘Welcome postcard template’ in the subject line and we can send you postcard templates, you can fill them in and return them to us and we can share them with people seeking sanctuary locally.

Thank you to our local community for welcoming people from all over the world and leading by example in the world we want to see. ******ercityofsanctuary

12/06/2026

UPDATE ON RIVER PARK ELECTRICS - TOILETS/SKATEPARK/CAR PARK LIGHTS 🚽💡🛹

Last week, I asked about this at the Wi******er City Council Full Council meeting.

In summary, WCC has done all it needs to do and we are waiting on SSEN who are failing to urgently address this issue (despite being regularly chased) leaving the skate park lights, car park lighting and pay machines and toilet block in River Park without lights

The latest is:

- earlier this year, high-voltage cabling was vandalized and stolen from the SSEN substation that served the former leisure centre, so SSEN disconnected it for safety reasons. This vandalism affected the street lighting at River Park, which has not worked since this damage took place – and also affects the toilet block and skate
park.

- in recent weeks, on behalf of WCC, Cardo has installed new cabling to connect the skate park lights, car park lighting and pay machines and toilet block which is now completely separate
from the old SSEN substation at the rear of the former leisure centre.

- SSEN now need to come out and provide the new supply. Cardo sent a request to SSEN on 30th April and SSEN said they would decide on the level of supply and come out by the 20th May but they still have not done so.

- many at WCC, including senior Cabinet members have been, corresponding with SSEN expressing frustration at the length of time this is taking without resolution and seeking a solution as soon as possible.

- Cllr Kathleen Becker contacting SSEN again on the day of Full Council - 4th June 2026 and will continue to do so until the lights are back on.

- The toilets have been cleaned and supplied with toilet roll and will be open as soon as the power is restored!

10/06/2026

Come and use these amazing new facilities in River Park 🏏👇

🏏 Two cricket lanes are available free of charge at River Park – just turn up to make use of them. They’re fully enclosed with netting, and have marked lines to assist with your bowling.

09/06/2026

HATE & DIVISION NOT WELCOME IN WI******ER 👇

“Protests” promoted by “Tommy Robinson” aka Stephen Yaxley-Lennon in Wi******er this evening failed to materialise - the sort of disorder and hatred that Yaxley-Lennon promotes isn’t welcome here in Wi******er.

Violent crime is absolutely horrendous - whether it be the shocking incident in Belfast or the attempted “beheading” that a far right activist was found guilty of carrying out in Bristol a few weeks ago.

The right reaction is for the criminal justice system to address it, not for senseless disorder on the streets or scapegoating entire communities of people.

A protest urging people to "STAND TOGETHER. BE HEARD. CREATE CHANGE" failed to materialise.

05/06/2026

Absolutely cracking job - high street looked great 🧽😀

05/06/2026

KICKING OFF THE SUMMER FESTIVALS IN WI******ER 🌶🧀👇

🎪Looking forward to the Cheese and Chilli Festival this weekend - the start of a series of ever popular festivals in River Park this Summer

Cheese & Chilli Festivals are a vibrant celebration of great food, live entertainment, and family fun.