The Lib Dem Plan for Winchester
Our May 2026 Manifesto.
Under the Liberal Democrats, the Winchester district is moving ahead.
While the Conservative County Council hikes tax, slashes services and fails to deliver, the Liberal Democrat City Council is investing to improve our city and town centres, recycling more, building more affordable homes, taking action to protect our environment, tackling the climate and nature emergencies, and helping people through the cost-of-living crisis.
There’s still much to do.
In the remaining two years of the County Council's existence, it can do so much more to make our streets safer, be a better and more effective partner with the NHS, better support our young people and be far more ambitious in protecting our environment.
Any Council works best when it works alongside local people. Working together, the Liberal Democrats believe we can address the challenges our area faces and look forward to a greener, stronger, fairer future for the Winchester District and across Hampshire as a whole.
Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat Leader of Winchester City Council
Safer Streets
Under the Conservatives, roads are falling apart and streets are unsafe. At the same time, they still block safer speeds and have failed to spend £74m of developer funds to improve our roads.
What we have done
- Successfully campaigned for safer crossings and better walking and cycle routes
- Unblocked the county’s absolute veto on 20 mph speed limits.
- Worked hard all year-round reporting endless potholes and other problems
What we will do next
- Invest in safer streets and tackling potholes by unblocking the county’s developer funding
- Support lower speeds in residential areas
- Improve safety with more crossings
- Work for ‘Vision Zero’: targeting zero fatalities or serious injuries on roads across Hampshire
Cost of Living Help
With the cost of living continuing to rise and tax bills at their highest in decades, the Lib Dems have worked hard to improve services while holding costs down.
What we have done
- Increased Council Tax Reduction funding for those in need
- Second lowest Council Tax increase of any district in Hampshire
- Over 1,000 council homes retrofitted to cut carbon and cut bills
- New support for veterans receiving military compensation or war pensions
What we will do next
- Invest extra in council tax hardship grants
- Targeted funding for charities supporting local people
- Cut fuel bills for low-income families with grants for insulation and solar panels
Greener, Faster
Lib Dems have led locally on tackling the climate and nature emergencies. We must end Conservative foot dragging: Hampshire County Council must go ‘greener, faster’ too.
What we have done
- Been rated a top District Council in UK for actions to tackle climate change
- Increased recycling, with new doorstep glass, electrical, battery and food waste collections
- Invested to cut phosphates and nitrates going into our rivers
- Top 5 council for tackling fly-tipping, down by 65% in 5 years
What we will do next
- Work to get Hampshire to Winchester standards for climate action
- Recycle more: get the fastest possible start for plastic recycling
- Invest £45 million in council house insulation and solar to cut bills
- Keep working to protect our rivers
Thriving Places
The Lib Dem team has worked hard with local communities and businesses to keep our city, towns and villages thriving and our countryside protected.
What we have done
- Agreed new Local Plan to block speculative development
- Built or bought 478 new council homes across the Winchester District
- Invested in local High Streets with refurbished toilets, bike parking & bins
- Worked with police to cut graffiti, vandalism and anti-social behaviour
What we will do next
- 1,000 new low carbon council homes in the next 10 years
- Central Winchester regen agreed in 2026. Start building in 2027
- Keep investing in our city and market town centres
- Action plan for wider range of affordable cultural activities
Healthy Communities
After years of Conservative neglect, the Lib Dems are working hard to protect local health services and make our area a healthier place to live.
What we have done
- Invested in new and extended GP surgeries across the area. This has let them hire more GPs and cut waiting times
- Invested in new leisure and sport facilities - including new sports pavilions and all-weather pitches
- Improved air and water quality
- Supported ‘City of Sanctuary'
What we will do next
- Keep fighting for NHS services, including A&E services in Winchester
- Better joint council working with the NHS to improve care
- Improve mental health support for young people
- Support local pharmacies
- Keep improving open spaces, play and sport facilities
Keeping it local
At a time when Labour and Conservatives are pushing huge, remote mega-councils, the Lib Dems are committed to keeping decisions as local as we can.
What we have done
- Campaigned with local people to protect local services, such as tips
- Listened to local people on plans for a new Town Council for Winchester
- Kept people informed all year round.
- Fought for a sensible plan for Local Government Reorganisation
What we will do next
- Work to keep decision-making local in the new unitary councils
- Fix how HCC works with partners, the public and local communities
- Support parish and town councils, with a new town council for Winchester
- Protect local services such as tips with much more local flexibility in operating
