WINCHESTER civic chiefs’ new entrepreneurial spirit was mocked by opposition councillor.

Lib Dem Martin Tod mocked the Tories for their stated ‘entrepreneurial’ approach.

The council wants to withstand the cuts in Government funding by becoming more pro-active in making money.

Cllr Tod pointed out the council had an aim to have made £500,000 profit from asset purchases by this month. It had bought land for a car park in Alresford.

“We bought a car park. It doesn’t sound like the Chinese will be living in fear of our entrepreneurial spirit because we bought a car park. I don’t think we will be on the front cover of Fortune with that one.”

The overview and scrutiny committee heard from the Conservatives that they were making good progress on many major schemes including the new leisure centre, Station Approach and Silver Hill 2.

The Lib Dems argued that the sports centre at Bar End and the new doctors’ surgery for the corner of Friarsgate and Upper Brook Street have been running behind schedule.

Original plans envisaged work starting at Bar End this year but now the council says it will be in 2019 subject to planning approval. Competition will be in 2021 rather than 2020.

Cllr Victoria Weston, Conservative, said: “I am pleased to see so many things on track. The leisure centre and Station Approach are not really delayed. Everything is moving forward. It shows how hard the staff are working.”

Those schemes, totalling around £200 million, will all see major steps forward this year with planning applications are expected for all three.

On Silver Hill 2, also known as the Central Winchester Redevelopment, a public meeting will be held before the end of this month, said council leader Caroline Horrill.