Winchester residents packed into the Stripe Theatre Tuesday night to hear details of a ten-year 'Masterplan' and question Uni chiefs.
Around 200 people attended a meeting at the University of Winchester (Tuesday 24 February 2009) for a conversation about the institutions plans for the next ten years.
The meeting, organised by the Winchester Town Forum, heard a detailed presentation from University Pro Vice-Chancellor Tommy Geddes and took more than an hour of questions from local residents.
Prospective Winchester MP Steve Brine attended the meeting with St Michael Ward colleagues from the council, Cllr Robert Sanders, Cllr Ian Tait, Cllr Fiona Mather and Cllr Eileen Berry who represents Weeke and Teg Down.
Speaking afterwards Steve said; “I thought it was a good event, it was really good to see the Stripe full because that room can seem awfully large when you only have a handful of people in there!
"I think we all learnt a lot about the intentions of the university and everyone who wanted to make their point had the chance to address the meeting. Any large institution located adjacent to a residential area is going to have times of friction and times of harmony with the local community. I think it is fair to say it’s been a little too much of the former in recent years but I hope this evening marks a real turning point.
“I genuinely think it is in the best interests of Winchester to make the most of the University – to maximise the benefits and minimise the negatives as has often been said. I am tremendously proud to have such a thriving University in Winchester and I think Mr Geddes was very open and fair at the meeting. I do however, think the University needs to remember that residents and councillors want a constantly open dialogue with them and I hope we are now set on a steady course in that regard.”