Supermarkets are making changes to adopt ‘greener’ values by offering consumers’ something for re-using bags, giving every customer an incentive.

Billions of bags are thrown away in Britain every year and many of these end up as unsightly litter in parks, trees and streets, causing environmental abuse and harm to wildlife.

Residents’ and visitors’ to the city of Winchester can have their input on an up and coming city transport ‘make-over’.

Winchester’s city council are in the final stages of submitting a much improved town access plan, in order to decrease pollution and achieve a greater sense of movement within the city.

A local resident Thomas Winter commented: ‘this is an excellent idea as it combines both environmental and spatial issues.  The Park & Ride scheme has been really handy for me as you often cannot find a space to park in town and even when it’s not as busy moving around Winchester is a slow process.  If everyone made a slight change in respect to some of the ideas put forward, such as car clubs, perhaps the city could begin its journey towards a much more environmentally friendly city.’’

The plan suggests adding to the present 780 space Park & Ride site-one to the north and one to the south, to ease traffic congestion around the centre and encourage people to enjoy hassle free journeys into the city.

At present there are 3,800 public car parking spaces available, however the council suggests allocating additional spaces for off-peak customers.

The plan also aims to tackle issues such as permit systems, loading restrictions-especially concerning St. George’s Street and adding further bus routes.

Residents of Winchester are invited to have their say in Saxon Suite at Winchester Guildhall over two half day periods: 7^th March 1-6pm and 8^th March 10am-1pm. 

This 500,000 pound scheme is set to commence in 2009.

A pledge to the residents’ of Winchester ensures the city’s quality of life will remain a key focus to the county council.

Winchester County Council are continuing to promote the need for a much greener and environmentally friendly city in order to reduce the threat to the cathedral city’s history heritage and setting.

Councillors’ want Winchester to remain a natural destination for visitors and shoppers.  They want visitors and residents of Winchester to focus on keeping noise to a minimum, putting their litter in one of the many available bins and find ways to decrease pollution by becoming more environmentally friendly.

Winchester resident Deborah Kelly commented: ‘‘Winchester is beautiful and I love living in this environment, however, recently I have noticed more litter, but more importantly youths creating trouble in the evenings which is beginning to give the city a bit of a bad night-time reputation.  I’ve lived here for 30 years and want to see some things change!’’

The council have created a list of ‘things-to-do’ in order to raise Winchester’s reputation: ‘improve the pedestrian environment and gateways into the town; manage our public open spaces to keep them clean and green; create a green town of top quality parks, gardens and open spaces.’’

‘Tackle anti-social behaviour by investing in Neighbourhood Wardens, CCTV, Shopwatch and Pubwatch schemes; tackle graffiti and flyposting quickly; remove street clutter to enhance the town’s appearance; give a lead role of Neighbourhood Wardens in maintaining the local environment and street scene.’

‘Establish ourselves as a “fair trade” town; manage our environment in a sustainable way; encourage the use of public transport to reduce space lost to the care;   encourage sculpture and art in the town.’

The vision sets out how Winchester is to evolve and in order for the movement to take place a number of organisations and individuals will discuss the overall change and outcome to make these changes possible.

I don’t know about anyone else but I loved today’s intro to the newsroom task! It was exciting, interesting and a brilliant adrenaline rush as well as being extremely useful in terms of everyones’ chosen stories and how to appoint them places on each page. Our group worked really well together and overall we produced a good paper – bar the major hiccup with a headline from berkshire in a hampshire newspaper!! oh well, these things happen, thank god we’re still in the early-ish stages!

In 2007, Winchester was reported by the WWF as ‘the least green’. Winchester City Council has teamed up with campaign group Recycle for Hampshire as Executive Member for Environment, Mel Kendal said `it was essential to recycle more waste`.

Hampshire residents produce approximately 900,000 tonnes of household rubbish each year. The Councils of Hampshire have been awarded £5 million from the government to improve recycling facilities throughout the county.

Winchester is the only location which recycles all waste materials in Hants.

The city is in partnership with Project Integra – Hampshire’s integrated waste management scheme for the next 25 years.

Executive officer of Project Integra Steve Read said, “We want to help expand the recycling habit from the house and workplace”.

Over 1600 recycling banks have been provided for the residents of Hants, and the Winchester City Council has placed recycling bins in student halls at the University of Winchester as they make up almost 10% of the population.

First year Winchester Student, Harriet Pollard claimed that “The university is not doing enough to recycle in West Downs Student Village. Bins are only placed by the car park at the very front of West Downs”.

Despite government’s best efforts, Hampshire is only ranked 9th place in composting, with an appalling 7.81% composting rate.

Director of Environment, Alison Quant wants to “Ensure recycling services are available a major public sector sites”.

Winchester City Council are pleased to see that over 95% of homes now have a kerbside collection of recyclables.

There are 26 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) situated in Hampshire, one of which is in Bar End, Winchester. This is the only HWRC which recycles harmful toxic waste alongside domestic recyclables.

The recycling rates are steadily increasing in Winchester – 30% of our household waste is recycled – making Hampshire 3rd best in the country.

Winchester City Council aspires to recycle up to 500,000 tons of material through creating awareness with slogans such as “It’s not rubbish – recycle it!”.
Spokesman for Recycle for Hampshire Roger Black said, “People who already recycle will be encouraged and reassured that their efforts are worthwhile, and those who do not currently recycle will be able to see it as easy and not just something other people do”.