WINCHESTER civic campaigners hold their annual general meeting today.

Winchester City Residents Association is pressing for the city area to again have a 'town council'.

Currently the City Council also covers the Winchester district and the association believes the city is harmed by the lack of an elected town council, removed in the 1974 local government reorganisation.

Rural councillors, some from as far as Southwick, near Portsmouth, dominate the council creating, a 'democratic deficit,' according to the association.

The guest speaker is Steve Lugg, director of Hampshire Association of Parish and Town Councils.

Spokesman Alan Weeks said: "The AGM is a very important meeting. The city really needs to have a town council."

The association has produced a short history on its role over the last 40 years which will be available at the meeting.

It played a crucial role in battling damaging developments in Winchester since the 1960s, including the Easton Lane Link, inner ring road, the building of the M3 through the water meadows and the idea to make Winchester an overspill town for London like Basingstoke.

The association also fought the demolition of Colebrook Place and the Peninsula Barracks.

The AGM starts at 7.30pm. It will be held in Milner Hall, St Peter Street.