A KEY moment has been reached in a £1m scheme to improve Winchester’s Chesil Theatre with the announcement that purchase of a sliver of land from St John’s Winchester Charity had been completed.

The sale, overcomes one of the project’s main stumbling blocks, members of Winchester Dramatic Society heard.

They had gathered to hear a progress report on the redevelopment plans, which involve creating a foyer, bar and better backstage areas.

Flavia Bateson, chairman of the society’s development appeal committee, said a further boost had been received from the Winchester Town Forum, wh