Revival planned for Kings Walk to combat anti-social behaviour

The city council wants to revive and enliven the Kings Walk area by bringing in artists, designers and 'makers' and where they have controversially ousted two popular shops.

It is set to appoint an architect to oversee the project. One key aim will be to tackle the anti-social behaviour in the vicinity by increasing footfall and creating places that people will want to visit.

The city council has set aside £385,000 for 'meanwhile' uses before the major redevelopment of the Silver Hill area.

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One idea is to take down the walls on which vagrants, beggars and drug users sit during the day and another is to install CCTV cameras, a meeting heard.

Veryan Lyons, head of programme, said: "We want to create activity and a buzz around the site in the mean time and tackle the anti-social behaviour in that area that tenants are frequently bringing to our attention and the falling footfall as a result of anti-social behaviour.

"We want to 'design out' the anti-social behaviour around the front entrance of Kings Walk and make it more active, creative and vibrant. We are working with the tenants to combat anti-social behaviour. The tenants are starting to activate the space and starting to to have an impact on the frequency of what we are seeing there."

The council is talking to the Kings Walk tenants, Business Improvement District and the police.

One of those tenants, Neil Wyatt, who owns South Downs Social cafe and emporium, says while there is an issue with antisocial behaviour, he feels the conversation has overshadowed some of the progress made by tenants.

He said: "I'm a big believer in Kings Walk and this part of town, there's often a lot of conversation about the area and Silver Hill, along the lines of how ugly the buildings are and a perception of anti-social behaviour going on. But I love Kings Walk, I think it has huge potential and there's a lot of great energy about the place and plenty of amazing businesses which have added to that energy.

"The public conversation is maybe a little bit behind where the businesses are with the area. We want to re-energise it and we're thinking proactively about how we can do that. There's a real need for a creative space in Winchester, it's a very creative place with lots of designers, people in the media, innovators, makers, and artists, too. Rent is a big issue for these types of businesses and creators, so if we can place those people in somewhere where the rent is a little bit more affordable like Kings Walk then I think the people of Winchester will benefit massively.

"Historically the area in front of my shop, even back to the days when there was a fountain out the front, was a place certain groups would meet.

"Drinking and other anti-social behaviour has taken place, but we've been working closely with the police and council, and we've done some really positive work to improve that.

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"There are of course a lot of external and cultural issues behind it, but you have to remember the unit where my business is had been closed for some time so was dead space, so it's natural people would colonise that space. But since we've moved here there has been a real improvement and hopefully that will continue. We're not there yet, but thing are moving in the right direction."

The decision day by cabinet member Kelsie Learney, portfolio holder for housing and asset management, heard that South Downs Social cafe and emporium, the new occupant of one of the most prominent Kings Walk premises, had plans to raise its profile.

Ms Lyons said she would meet architects this week to tour the area and discuss various options.

The Kings Walk tenants have been waiting a long time and say 'let's get on with it and get it done'.

The two ousted shops - Sukee Market and Sunflowers Emporium - are due to leave their premises this month.

Ms Lyons said one idea for Kings Walk may be too ambitious. There was an idea to make fresh use of the rooftop car park but with the partial demolition of the former multi-storey car park there are access issues off Middle Brook Street, she told the decision day meeting. "It's trickier than we first thought but we haven't ruled it out."

Cllr Kelsie Learney, portfolio holder for housing and asset management, said: "It is essential we employ an architect with vision to create what we want to see."

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