GOSH two pieces of good new regarding local government. The county council has backtracked on its plans to close 12 recycling centres, or tips, including Alresford, Bishop's Waltham and Casbrook near Romsey. This is welcome news both for saving rural laybys from flytipping and for Hampshire's stagnating recycling figures.

The cynic might suggest that the county never really intended to close the tips but hoped to gain last-minute kudos by seeming to save them. As the Chronicle might have mentioned before, Joseph Stalin proposed annexing Spain at the end of World War Two. It was never a serious idea but made his other demands in eastern Europe appear more sensible.

READ MORE HERE: Funding approved for major project in River Park

We are, of course, not equating county council leader Nick Adams-King or his predecessor Rob Humby, who instigated the proposals, with an evil megalomaniac. But we would not be surprised if this supposed U-turn was designed to make the cuts to homelessness support and bus services appear more palatable.

The other good news is the city council stumping up £1.67million to push the long-awaited Pavilion Project over the line. Local people raised a six-figure sum before the scheme at River Park got embroiled in Covid and then the cost of living crisis which saw building costs soar. Now, when it might have been quietly pushed to one side the city council has secured the project, even at a higher cost than the original scheme. This is excellent news following on from the development of the King George V pavilion in Highcliffe and the major sports centre at Bar End. Winchester is renewing its civic infrastructure.

All we need now are good plans for Station Approach and the Central Winchester Regeneration, better known as Silver Hill. The latter is just around the corner. We can't wait.