The Friends of the Itchen Estuary has called for public discussion and consultation over the future of the Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre given concerns that it could be sold.

 

The plea comes as political opposition groups have called on the city council to publish details of sites which are under consideration for disposal.

Although Southampton City Council (SCC) cabinet member for compliance and leisure Cllr Toqeer Kataria said in February that the authority is “fully committed to keeping Woodmill open as a facility for water activities and community use”, he also added that if an operator wasn’t found closure could be the “absolute last option”.

But now there are concerns that Woodmill may be on the list of saleable assets, and it’s even thought that at least two large local organisations could be waiting in the wings, potentially interested in buying it if it’s put on the market.

“I’m very concerned about what’s… potentially happening to this site which is in my view is the most ecologically valuable site in Southampton, with additional huge wellbeing value,” said chair of the friends group Gavin Millar.

“And it just seems wrong to me that it could be sold without public discussion.”

He emphasised that the River Itchen is ecologically significant not just locally but globally, as one of the few chalk rivers in the world - most of which are in southern England, with Southampton being particularly unusual in having two chalk rivers within its city boundaries.

Gavin Millar, demonstrating water testing in the Itchen at a Surfers Against Sewage protest in July 2024

Millar raised concerns about sustained ecological damage to the Itchen from water over-extraction and sewage pollution, highlighting the sharp decline in the genetically unique Atlantic chalk stream salmon population as a critical issue. He said the salmon’s struggle - caused by barriers to migration, habitat degradation and pollution - reflects wider ecological deterioration in the river system, as these fish act as a key indicator species for the river’s overall health.

The Test and Itchen are Hampshire’s equivalent of coral reefs, said Millar, highlighting Woodmill as a particularly rich and secluded habitat along the Itchen, where the breach channel and salmon pond support diverse wildlife including otters, birds, and migrating salmon.

“For all those reasons, and because it has loads of potential for mental and physical wellbeing, and for education, I think it is a uniquely precious habitat within Southampton. There ought to be a public discussion about this, and a consultation about this, regarding its future.”

A new mural celebrates Woodmill as a birthplace of endangered Atlantic chalk stream salmon

Of key concern to the group is not only the mill itself, which has huge historical significance, but the land running east upriver.

Millar said the site could become a nature sanctuary or education centre, offering a space for people to connect with the river and woodland while supporting ecological restoration. As well as its environmental value, he suggested it has potential for wellbeing and learning.

He also pointed to successful projects elsewhere - in Salisbury, Andover and along the River Clyde in Glasgow - where nature has been brought into urban areas in creative and sensitive ways.

“It’s vital that the necessary discussion about this uniquely valuable habitat happens before it’s sold rather than after,” concluded Millar.

We asked the city council to comment on the call for public discussion and consultation. We also asked for any update on the quest to find an operator, whether the centre has been valued for sale purposes, and whether it is currently, or will shortly be, put up for sale.

While not referencing the call for discussion, in a statement on Monday (April 7) SCC cabinet member Cllr Toqeer Kataria (left) said: "The Council remains committed to ensuring the continued future of the Woodmill site, which is not only a hub for outdoor leisure activities but also an important location that holds ecological value.
 
“The council is working with a group of interested stakeholders to explore future options for the site, ensuring that leisure, ecological, and community needs are considered. The council has had the site valued for sale and lease option as a going concern, though no decision has been made at this stage. We will communicate once we have clarity on the future of the venue."

Photo of Cllr Toqeer Kataria: SCC