Cllr John Tippett-Cooper - Winchester City Council

21/08/2026

The final drop-in information event on the future of the old leisure centre at River Park is on 3 Sept before the cabinet decision on 9 Sept - hope to see lots of people!

📣You're Invited!

We're holding a final drop-in information event on the future of the former leisure centre site on Thursday 3 September from 3 - 7pm at The Courtyard, Guildhall Wi******er, SO23 9GH.

There’s no need to book, just pop along, meet the project team, and ask your questions before the council’s Cabinet meets on Wednesday 9 September.

Can’t make the event? Don’t worry. All the information will be added to our website www.winchester.gov.uk/former-leisure-centre-site

19/08/2026

Fantastic work SWVG do in Wi******er 👇

Refugees shared powerful stories at a Wi******er Rotary Club meeting.

18/08/2026

Another reason why I love Wi******er City F.C.!

Some news about loos... first the bad news, then the good!

Of late, we've had many people asking about access to the toilets in the River Park Pavilion. We've explained that in order to use them we'd have to pay to hire the space, which parkrun guidelines don't allow us to do.

And actually, it's now not an option as the space has been hired for a Runners' Pilates class pre-parkrun (ideal as a warm-up, but obviously it means that we can't get in there).

However, the good news is that Wi******er City Football Club reached out to us as part of the sporting community to see if they could help.

We're absolutely delighted to say that from September 5th, they are opening their facilities to us from 8am so that we can use them before and after parkrun during the football season.

On both a Saturday (5k) and a Sunday (Juniors), we'll not only have access to the outside toilet block... but also refreshments!

Cold drinks, tea, proper coffee and other hot drinks... snacks, sweets, crisps and ice-cream. Plus, if it's raining (which at the moment would be lovely), we can shelter in the stands.

Access is just a short walk from the field where we finish, past the Rugby Club and then up the steps on the left.

We are incredibly grateful to Charlotte, John and everyone at the Football Club for this trial run... hopefuly we'll make it worth their while to open all year round.

Come on !

11/08/2026

A new Wi******er Town Council – a bit more detail tonight 🏛️

At Town Forum this evening we looked at the next steps towards creating a new Wi******er Town Council, including the first detailed proposals for the parks, green spaces and other assets it would take responsibility for.

There’s strong public support for the principle. More than 1,400 people and organisations responded to the first consultation, with 65% supporting a new council overall – rising to 86% amongst residents living in the Wi******er town area itself.

There’s quite a bit in the proposals for us locally in St Barts. Among the assets proposed to transfer to the new Town Council are:

🌳 North Walls / River Park, including the recreation ground, play area, skatepark and pavilion

🌿 Abbotts Barton Park

🌳 Hillier’s Haven

⚽ Winnall Manor Road Recreation Ground

🌿 Imber Road Park and Joyce Gardens

🥕 Park Road allotments

There are also a number of local sporting and community sites on the proposed list.

The full draft list of assets across Wi******er is in the appendix to tonight’s Town Forum papers here:
https://democracy.winchester.gov.uk/documents/b13680/Supplementary%20agenda%2011th-Aug-2026%2018.30%20Wi******er%20Town%20Forum.pdf?T=9

One of the points I made tonight is that I just don’t think you can get the same engaged, local and passionate care for St Barts treasured spaces and assets from a unitary council which will have to manage an area covering around 500,000 people across Hampshire.

That isn’t a criticism of the new council but it’s simply a consequence of the scale of it.

For places like River Park, Winnall Manor Road park, Abbotts Barton Park and Hillier’s Haven, I want decisions to continue to be made as locally as possible, by councillors who know these places, use them and hear directly from the residents and community groups who care about them.

04/08/2026

Struggling for signal in Wi******er? You’re not alone! Let Danny Chambers MP and Wi******er Liberal Democrats know about your experience here and help get better signal in the city: http://dannychambers.org.uk/signal-survey

04/08/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002zgy1?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

M3 ROADWORKS DISCUSSION

3hrs 11 mins into this - thanks to Radio Solent for calling to discuss the M3 roadworks and their impact on Winnall and Wi******er - we’ll continue to keep pressing National Highways to consider things like the traffic light phasing on Easton Lane 👇🚧🚦

Your morning mix of news, laughs and local life.

04/08/2026

If there’s one story to get angry and upset about on the BBC website right now - it’s this one 👇

Waiting for Reform politicians to vent their fury at how these polluting big companies are shamelessly profiteering in a global fuel crisis while millions suffers from the underlying conflict and everyone else suffers crazy prices…👇

Higher oil prices boost the energy giant's results while environmental groups accuse it of profiteering.

04/08/2026

03.08.26: POWER IS RESTORED!

The works by the electric companies has now completed and power is now back on to the toilets, the skatepark and car park - really happy that the toilets in particular will be back in use again during the busy summer period!

03/08/2026

A really super addition - my boys loved it - cheaper than most soft plays, a big area and air conditioned! 👇

02/08/2026

Traffic crawling through the city today - if you can avoid driving over the next couple of days, then strongly recommend it!

📍M3 J9 roundabout closure

We'll be closing the roundabout to finish essential road connections to the new roundabout and bridges on the interchange. Please remember that only the roundabout will be closed, meaning:

➡️ The M3 is open through Junction 9
⚠️ However, the slip roads leading on and off the junction will be closed. This means there will be no access to the M3 northbound from the roundabout

📅 Friday 31 July, 9pm to Monday 3 August, 6am

🔗 For more information and to view the diversion routes, visit: https://nationalhighways.co.uk/roads-and-travel/road-projects/south-east/m3-junction-9-improvements/