Winchester's recycling rate has risen sharply following the introduction of weekly food waste collections across the district, according to figures welcomed by local Liberal Democrats.

The proportion of household waste recycled increased from 40.40% in 2024/25 to 47.33% during the first four months following the full rollout of the new service – an improvement of almost seven percentage points.

The weekly collections are helping residents recycle food waste that would previously have been thrown away with general rubbish. Instead, the collected material can be turned into renewable energy and fertiliser.

Residents across Winchester District are now recycling around 300 tonnes of food waste each month, with the Council estimating that the service could save approximately 1,900 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

Lib Dem Councillor Steve Cramoysan, Winchester City Council's Cabinet Member for Waste and Recycling, has welcomed the figures as evidence that the district is making progress towards recycling more and wasting less.

The Council is continuing to improve the service following its introduction, including addressing missed collections and other initial issues raised by residents.

Residents can find information about collections, what can be recycled and how to report missed bins at winchester.gov.uk.

The Liberal Democrats say the improvement shows how practical changes to everyday council services can help households make a positive difference to the environment.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has praised Winchester City Council for recognising nature as essential infrastructure, calling on other councils across the region to follow its lead.

The Trust welcomed a motion passed by Winchester City Council on 20 August, recognising the natural environment as strategically important infrastructure alongside transport, housing and other essential services.

This means recognising that healthy rivers, woodlands, wetlands, soils and other natural habitats are vital to our communities and economy, providing clean air and water, reducing flooding and supporting wildlife.

The motion also calls for nature recovery and climate resilience to be built into future plans for development and investment.

The Wildlife Trust has now written to council leaders across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, encouraging them to adopt similar commitments.

Niamh Tickner, Planning Policy and Campaigns Officer at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, welcomed Winchester's decision as an important step towards ensuring nature is considered from the outset when planning for the region's future.

The Trust highlighted growing pressures on Hampshire's natural environment, including biodiversity loss, pollution, water scarcity, flooding and climate change.

With major decisions ahead on housing, transport and infrastructure across Hampshire and the Solent, the Trust believes protecting and restoring nature must be central to future planning.

The decision builds on Winchester City Council's wider work to protect the district's natural environment, including its commitment to tackling the climate and nature emergencies and protecting important habitats such as Hampshire's rare chalk streams.

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Trust's recognition of Winchester's approach, which acknowledges that protecting nature is not separate from building thriving communities, but an essential part of doing so.

The recent budget has made the case for electing the new Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent in 2027 rather than 2028 even stronger.

From 2027, areas with Mayors are set to keep 20% of all the business rates collected in their area to spend locally - but we won't get that.  

Lib Dem candidate for Mayor, Martin Tod, is running a petition to persuade government to bring the election back to May 2027: 

“The delayed election means we are set to miss out on up to £180m which could have come to us locally. It could have been spent on building local skills, supporting local businesses, improving local infrastructure and protecting our local environment - much of which will now be going into a central government pot instead.”

Winchester MP Danny Chambers has been unanimously reselected by local Liberal Democrat members to stand as their candidate at the next General Election.

Danny, who was elected as Winchester's MP in July 2024, has pledged to continue standing up for residents across the constituency, including protecting local NHS services, tackling sewage dumping and helping families struggling with the cost of living.

Danny said:

"It's an enormous honour and privilege to serve the people of Winchester and to be asked to do so again."

Since his election, Danny and his team have dealt with more than 22,000 pieces of casework, helping residents with issues including healthcare, housing, benefits, special educational needs and problems with utility companies.

He has also spoken 226 times in Parliament, submitted 139 written questions to ministers and attended more than 750 constituency events.

Locally, Danny has campaigned to protect A&E and consultant-led maternity services at Royal Hampshire County Hospital, opposed cuts to bus services and challenged proposals to weaken protections for the South Downs.

He has also continued his work on animal welfare, drawing on his experience as a veterinary surgeon, including introducing legislation to tackle the importation of very young puppies and kittens.

Danny added:

"I will keep fighting for my constituents and for the issues local people care about, including protecting our A&E and consultant-led maternity services at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

"I will also continue campaigning to end sewage dumping in our rivers and pressuring the Government to help people struggling with the cost of living."

Danny won Winchester from the Conservatives at the 2024 General Election and will now stand again as the Liberal Democrat candidate at the next election.

The future of local government in Hampshire remains uncertain after the Government confirmed that plans to reorganise councils across the county are still under review.

The announcement on 29 October follows the Government's decision in September to withdraw its previous plans for Hampshire and the Solent, which would have replaced existing councils with new unitary authorities.

Ministers have confirmed that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be among 15 areas undergoing further review, with some decisions expected by Christmas and others early in the new year.

Under the revised timetable, elections to existing councils will go ahead in May 2027, with elections to the new shadow authorities expected in May 2028. The new councils are now scheduled to take over in April 2029.

For Winchester residents, this means Winchester City Council will continue delivering local services while the Government determines the future structure of local government.

The announcement comes alongside a separate decision to keep the first election for Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent in May 2028, despite calls for it to be brought forward to 2027.

Martin Tod: Delay could cost our area £180 million

Winchester City Council Leader and Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Martin Tod has criticised the decision, warning that it could mean Hampshire and the Solent missing out on substantial funding.

Under changes announced in the Government's Budget, areas with elected mayors are set to retain a share of locally collected business rates from 2027.

Martin has warned that delaying the mayoral election could mean the region missing out on up to £180 million that could otherwise have been invested locally.

He said:

"The delayed election means we are set to miss out on up to £180m which could have come to us locally. It could have been spent on building local skills, supporting local businesses, improving local infrastructure and protecting our local environment."

Martin is calling on the Government to bring the mayoral election forward to May 2027, arguing that Hampshire and the Solent should not have to wait another year to benefit from greater local decision-making and investment.

While the future structure of Hampshire's councils remains unresolved, local Liberal Democrats will continue working to deliver services for residents and pressing for greater powers and investment for the area.

Read more about Martin's campaign to bring forward the mayoral election