Winchester businesses and shopkeepers have had their first chance to hear more about the £90m redevelopment in the city centre.

On Tuesday, 60 people attended a meeting at The Guildhall to hear about the proposed revamp of the Friarsgate-Broadway area from city council planning boss, Steve Bee.

The meeting was part of the six-week consultation on the massive scheme which will transform the area between Friarsgate, The Broadway, Middle Brook Street and Eastgate Street.

Mr Bee said: "It will help claw back some of the trade lost to other centres such as Southampton and Basingstoke and also meet the growing retail spending that is likely to occur over the next 10 years.

"This public consultation is important. There are things that you will know that we don't."

The scheme envisages a new bus station, shops and 100 homes, with some leisure and offices.

Mr Bee said the start of the scheme was being slowed by the complicated land ownership. If the developers, Thornfield, cannot acquire the land through negotiation with the numerous landowners, then the council would use compulsory purchase powers.

Planning permission for a scheme could be granted in 2004, with builders on site in 2005, taking two or three years to complete the project, said Mr Bee.

He assured the audience that the council would take planning decisions that were best for Winchester.

There was a mixed reaction from the audience. Chris Higgins, chief estates officer at King Alfred's College, praised the planners for their handling of a complex scheme.

But he warned against the council repeating the poor architecture of the Brooks centre.

Abdul Kayum, owner of Gourmet Rajah, said: "The idea is fantastic. It shows Winchester is dynamic and energetic."

But other businessmen were less enthusiastic. Alan Kinge, who runs a stall in the Kings Walk market, accused the council of secrecy.

He said: "This development has caused a lot of uncertainty and unhappiness that is driving people away. The council's record on this has been pretty shady and secretive."

Mr Bee denied the allegation. "We are not being shady or deceitful," he said. "The reason there hasn't been a lot said is because not a lot has been happening."

Danny Habel, owner of Habels furniture shops, questioned the need for the bus station to be retained in the city centre.

Others involved with the Kings Walk antiques market heard that the 19th-century building was likely to be demolished.

Mr Bee said: "I don't see any alternative to redeveloping the antiques market. We recognise there are businesses that won't be able to afford the high rents in the new shopping centre but there may be an opportunity to put them in the Woolstaplers' Hall."

Jim Sawyer, of the Winchester branch of the North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the city centre definitely needed an indoor market.

The consultation programme will finish on April 11th and will include a special town forum meeting later this month. The council will also address other interested groups such as the City of Winchester Trust and the Rotary Club. Copies of the brief may be viewed at the council's planning offices in Avalon House, Chesil Street and an online version may be found at www.winchester.gov.uk/planning.