Yet another consultation, this time regarding the future of Sir John Moore Barracks has been announced. 

The plan is for what is in essence another swanky suburban housing development. Isn’t it time we tried to join up some of the thinking?

Both the prison and the hospital sites are old and no longer fit for purpose. Shouldn’t one of those be relocated to the barracks site and their prime city centre locations used for high density housing?

This would have multiple benefits both public and private. The public good will be served by much-needed new Government facilities whilst the new residents would be convenient for the station, shops and all the other attractions of the city centre. They would be able to walk everywhere and hardly have need for a car at all. 

Surely in these times of climate emergency this is a much better course of action than continuing to extend urban sprawl? We constantly gobble up more and more of our green fields and we will lose more if they are built on by a new prison or hospital or housing. 

Let us make the most of the land we have already consumed.

Mike Biden,
St. Giles Hill,
Winchester

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