Hampshire Chronicle review of 2021: January to June

The Chronicle has taken a look back at some of the highs and lows of this year. First we look back to the first half of the year.

JANUARY

THE year starts as it will later end, with talk of lockdowns. The new year launches with the country going into a third lockdown with people urged to stay at home by the Prime Minister. Covid cases rise to a level not seen since March and April of 2020. The High Street is pictured on Boxing Day devoid of shoppers, the nightmare that those working in pubs, restaurants and cafes are again fearing.

A lorry park on the A31 opens between Winchester and Alresford to deal with a feared backlog of lorries heading for the continent in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The 2020 lockdown has caused problems on stretches of the River Itchen between Easton and Itchen Abbas and led to the closure of the bank. In an article in Itchen Valley News, one riverbank owner, Nick Owen, explained that the river is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), “but just as relevant and misunderstood is the need for protection of people from falling trees and from the diseases that abound in many rivers.”

Two major local figures announce their retirement. Prof Joy Carter, 65, will step down as vice-chancellor of Winchester University and Keith Cutler, 70, will retire as the Recorder of Winchester, the senior judge at the city law courts.

Bo Priestley is campaigning to save Bushfield Camp and the adjacent downland from the threat of redevelopment. With Winchester property prices still rising sharply developers are eying countryside on the edge of the city, including the former Army base, vacated in the 1970s and regarded in planning terms as ‘brownfield land’.

Debenhams in Winchester

Final flickering hopes for Debenhams are extinguished with an announcement that all its remaining stores including Winchester will close. Online retailer boohoo pays £55m to acquire the Debenhams brand name and its website but none of the stores.

The trial begins at Winchester Crown Court of four men accused of the murder of Gurinderjit Rai in Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton, in July 2019.

FEBRUARY

VILLAGERS are campaigning against works to extend the ‘smart motorway’ towards Winchester. Residents in Compton say it is dangerous and are unhappy that trees will be removed, potentially increasing noise pollution.

Taylor Wimpey has acquired land on the edge of Alresford for its scheme for 320 houses as well as open space and a cemetery.

Several people are fined for breaches of the lockdown restrictions including a mother of a 14 year old boy spotted by police outdoors twice in 24 hours. Steve Brine MP says: “Whatever the case rate in Winchester and whatever we may individually feel about the latest lockdown measures, we all need to stick to the rules and act like we have the virus.

International Trade Minister George Hollingbery

Former Meon Valley MP and city councillor George Hollingbery is announced as the next British ambassador to Cuba with the move criticised by trade unions as Sir George, MP from 2010 to 2019, has no diplomatic experience.

A flood of opposition greets a proposal for a solar farm north of Alresford. There are scores of objections to plans for 54 acres at Godsfield, generating enough power for 3,000 homes. The application is still undetermined by this month.

Covid cases start to drop but there is an outbreak in the confines of Winchester Prison.

Drew Lee with Dave the emu on the A32 near Wickham

On a lighter note a man has ‘the weirdest day’ of his life catching a runaway emu on the A32 near Wickham. Drew Lee helps capture the bird which was endangering itself and others.

One good aspect of Covid is the explosion in charitable giving. Staff at the RHCH take delivery of ‘thank you boxes’ donated by people to show appreciation to those on the NHS front line.

MARCH

A VILLAGER calls for reforms of the system for tree protection orders after city councillors were urged to grant one for a tree that is the subject of a malicious tip-off. Une Stevens of Compton calls for reforms after a person, whose identity has not been disclosed, told the council that two western red cedars in her back garden were under threat. The planning committee rejected the TPO recommendation from their tree officer.

It’s a first - a virtual demonstration against the plans for Royaldown new town, proposed for farmland between Hursley and Oliver’s Battery. Two hundred and eighty people attend the protest without leaving the comfort of their homes. The scheme for 5,000 homes will later be withdrawn.

Plans to celebrate the 200th anniversary of William Cobbett’s Rural Rides are dropped because of the author’s anti-Semitism. A group of enthusiasts were planning to mark the anniversary but have abandoned the plans after discovering the depth of his hatred of Jews. Edward Fennell explains there would have been a storm of protest to the celebration.

Tom Romita.

Winchester institution Tom Romita places his cafe/restaurant on St George’s Street on the market as he looks to retire. But he assures his customers that he “isn’t going anywhere soon.” Which is true as he is still here at the end of the year.

Fire wrecks three cottages at Bransbury despite the efforts of 115 firefighters in one of the biggest domestic blazes in Hampshire this year.

The first Hendog at Garnier Road, St Cross. Photo: Sudhanshu Patwardhan

The first of a series of Banksy-style murals appears near Garnier Road, St Cross, the work of an artist called Hendog. Other will appear around the city throughout the year.

A new open space will be created on the site of the long-empty Friarsgate Medical Centre, the city council announces.

APRIL

A CONTROVERSIAL statue of green campaigner Greta Thunberg is unveiled at the university new building at West Downs. It cost around £23,000 which sparks widespread criticism.

The statue of climate change activist Greta Thunberg which has been installed outside the University of Winchester's West Down Centre in Winchester, Hampshire. Picture date: Tuesday March 30, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA

Residents fear plans are afoot for housing on South Winchester Golf Club when “mystery contractors” are seen surveying the land. The city council is drawing up its new Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA) which states that there is enough space for 1,071 houses. It transpires there is a deed of covenant which will retain it as a golf course until at least 2026.

Four men are convicted of the killing of Gurinderjit Rai. Aston Hannis and Charlie Statham receive long sentences for murder. Corin Barlow and Paul White are jailed for manslaughter.

Winchester city centre sparks back to life with shops opening for the first time this year and whilst pubs and restaurants open their outdoor seating areas.

There’s widespread shock and sadness at the sudden death of Winchester barrister Matthew Jewell QC aged 54. He is one of the most highly regarded advocates of his generation.

This month sees the full pedestrianised of The Square at weekends, a move that will later be made permanent. It is greeted with mixed views, as is the announcement of the cancellation of Boomtown in August. The organisers cannot take the risk of carrying on preparing for the event in the Covid uncertainty.

Matt and Lucy with their eldest daughter Rosie

A young father speaks of his heartbreak after his wife dies during childbirth. Bishop’s Waltham mother-of-two Lucy Howell, 32, died in hospital and now widower Matt is raising money to install a memorial at Winnall Moors Nature Reserve – one of her favourite places to take her eldest daughter Rosie.

The future of Moorside specialist dementia care home in Winchester is uncertain as charity St John’s Winchester reviews its operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. Moorside is only around 25 years old.

MAY

Police on the A33 stopping traffic during horse and trap race in May

POLICE have come under criticism for the way they handled unauthorised horse and trap racing on the A33, saying “ultimately these are the difficult decisions policing has to make every day”.

Hundreds of travellers blocked the road, which runs between Basingstoke and Winchester, for horse and trap races.

Police closed the road and diverted traffic sparking widespread criticism on social media.

South Winchester Golf Club has been sold to a housing company, sparking fears it will be developed.

The golf club has told members via email that the 18-hole course is being sold to Bloor Homes.

Boomtown has announced plans for a smaller festival, only open to local residents.

Organisers still want to put on a show after cancelling the annual 77,000 capacity festival scheduled for August.

The suggested sculpture/tower at North Walls Park. Image: Winchester City Council

Winchester City Council have mooted radical changes for North Walls Park such as a sculpture tower to be a new visitor attraction, which could include a helter skelter or climbing wall.

Ideas also include a revamp of the Park Avenue entrance with an outdoor area for events, seating, drinking fountain, water fountain for play, toilets and possible cafe or mobile coffee van.

Many businesses in Winchester rejoiced at reopening while others welcomed customers indoors for the first time since December.

One of those was St James Tavern, on Romsey Road. General manager Martyn Hutton said: “It is like a bandage has been lifted, pubs are support networks, they are not just dispensaries of alcohol - it is where you meet people. It is like a breath of fresh air to be open.”

The Rt Rev Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester

The Bishop of Winchester has stepped down from his role for several weeks amidst reports of discontent among clergy.

A group of between 20 to 30 senior church members are understood to have threatened to pass a vote of no confidence.

The Right Rev Tim Dakin is now taking a break from his role based at Wolvesey Palace in Winchester.

JUNE

Winchester’s new sport and leisure park welcomed visitors for the first time and local residents are enjoying it.

Jason Bennett, 28, of Winnall, said: “It looks good and it feels even better. The gym is impressive and the pool is huge. Well worth the wait.”

Highways England has unveiled major changes to its scheme for junction nine on the M3 at Winnall.

These include the length available for vehicles to change lanes when joining the A34 from junction 9 and then heading on to the A33/Kings Worthy, the future traffic capacity and the length of construction time.

The construction of a new multi-storey car park in Bar End could be stopped in its tracks.

Residents in Domum Road are looking to take legal action on the decision to build a 287-space park and ride on the former Vaultex site by the city council. They have applied to the High Court for a judicial review.

 

A major development providing on-site accommodation has opened a new chapter in Trinity Winchester’s 35-year history.

The charity has welcomed its first residents to its £1.5m accommodation project, UnderOneRoof@trinity.

St John’s Winchester has confirmed that Moorside care home will close after no workable way of keeping the facility open has been found during a consultation.

Parents have been left in the lurch after Winchester nurseries have decided to close their doors with families having to find alternative childcare.

The Lido Nursery School and Activity Club, in Worthy Lane, suddenly closed after a damning Ofsted report which branded the provision as ‘inadequate’.

King Worthy Pre-school has announced that it will close in December, with parents starting a petition for a solution to be found and save the provision.