The Gazette's readers are pleading with the owners of Brighton Hill Retail Park to rebuild it into an ice rink following reports that they are “considering all options” for the future of the park.
After the departure of various businesses from the retail park, owners LaSalle are reportedly in talks with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on how to rebuild the site.
One of the options being considered for the 3.3-hectare retail park, in Winchester Road, is to knock it down and replace it with industrial units, keeping only the McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru.
However, most of the Gazette's readers said they want see the Brighton Hill Retail Park turned into an ice rink amidst uncertainties over the future of Planet Ice centre in Basingstoke.
Our readers also suggested the retail park should be converted into a food court or housing complex. Following are the suggestions made by the readers.
Community answers
What do you think should happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?
"As reported exclusively in The Gazette this week, the owners of Brighton Hill Retail Park are weighing up their options about the site's future. We would like to hear from our readers about what they think should happen."
We asked for your responses - this is what you sent.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Ice rink, roller rink and restaurant.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I would love to see it turned into an adventure playground for children of all ages. I believe the children deserve it after the couple of years they have had to deal with and it will be great for family time.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A top grade ice facility with a good bar and restaurant too.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?As many property developers seem to want to build on green belt sites locally. I’d like to see this brown belt site developed into a housing estate - jobs, housing, no damage to the countryside
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A multipurpose sports complex, incorporating a new ice rink. A hub for our sporting youth that keeps them fit and healthy
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I would love to see a new, functional ice rink built. A place where hockey players and figure skaters can train and put on tournaments, competitions, camps etc. You could even extend it to include sports such as curling or speed skating. With this space you can also include office facilities to support all athletes using the rink as well.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A Cosmo restaurant should be on the site.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I would like La Tasca to return to Basingstoke. It would also be beneficial for the town to have something like Cosco here too!
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I'd like to see an ice rink built there. The ice rinks bring people to the town who then spend money in shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels. Plenty of parking available too. So many people use the rink now - public skaters, synchronised skaters, figure skaters, lessons etc as well as the ice hockey.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Definitely a new ice rink in the footprint of the retail stores and already plenty of parking. No need to change McDonalds and what was the PizzaHut will be ideal for another dining option as-is.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?New ice rink
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Indoor rock climbing wall, trampoline park, soft play. Make it a social destination with decent eatery and coffee place. TGIs or similar.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A brand new ice rink - with facilities for all kinds of ice sports and leisure activities.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I think they should keep it as a shopping place - maybe a pound shop or a few cheap shops because that seems to get people interested. Even IKEA or some cafes like the Chelsea coffee house. Or bring back good old Woolworths.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?It would be a great place for a new ice rink plenty of parking for games and it would draw people to the retail park and may entice more food vendors.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I would like to see st Michael’s expanded and new shops and restaurants added to make this a more desirable location. I live within walking distance of this area and it would be nice to have things like an M&S food hall, a sports shop, a department store and another gym with a swimming pool would be nice.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?An ice rink is the obvious answer. #keepiceinbasingstoke
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Build an Ice rink.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A new ice rink. The current one is clearly falling to pieces and is used and loved by many still.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A new home for Basingstoke Town football club.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A new ice rink
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Sporting arena including full sized ice pad that can replace the dilapidated Planet Ice. Encompass a dining area to encourage more users and visitors. A multi-use building where the pad could be covered would allow variety to other users for events such as concerts or non ice based sports. This would be in keeping with the council “developing and supporting the future of sport in Basingstoke and Deane”
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Use it for leisure, night club, bars, restaurants. You could fit in an ice rink if you joined two of the units, virtual reality space, massive indoor kids play space, climbing centre, escape rooms. They could make rents more affordable by charging for car parking.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Outdoor swimming area for kids park
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A new centre for restaurants, artisan crafts and foods, ice cream etc...in the centre, a picnic/Park area with benches for people to sit at with shaded and covered areas.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Turn the empty spaces into an ice rink. It's such a waste of space and would be a great use for the units! It has great parking, it's in town, the traffic would be no worse than when the football ground was open.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?A new ice arena🏒🥅
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Give the town (and all those that travel in) an ice rink. The Council do not listen to the people who have been saying for years it’s what they want for their town. Put Basingstoke on the map with a quality rink. The town (and its residents) need something we can all get behind. Something for all ages to take part in and to support Basingstoke teams and individual skaters.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Repurpose what's there as a leisure hub: Night club, casino, bars, restaurants, Ice rink, Children's play barn, large escape rooms, VR suites. They could add to the current number units needed to make it work. All will give reasonable return for LaSalle without them having the cost of having to knock it all down and rebuild. It would bring jobs, not just lure away the smaller companies from existing industrial estates in the town. What's [there] to lose? Look at the return for LaSalle and the community, then think again in a few years if the concept doesn't work. Time to think more about the town's residents.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?An ice rink - They can make a decent return if properly managed. Early morning patch, daytime, evening and weekend public skating, skating lessons, rec hockey, daytime hockey training for juniors etc.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?Out of town shopping please: Home Sense, fashion stores. Similar to Newbury.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I would like to see something that's beneficial for Basingstoke - something that can actually bring more jobs and is long term. Maybe it is best to take a look at other towns and see what works for them and what we could gain from.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?New stores opening. Maybe some more restaurants or another gym (would love pure gym or JD so there's more choice). Would be good to have a department store as John Lewis and Debenhams have gone from town.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?TGIs would be great. Maybe some clothing shops too. Soft play centre for kids.
What would you like to see happen to Brighton Hill Retail Park?I think it would be beneficial to the social life of Basingstoke for it to be turned into a food court, with new restaurants/food chains that Basingstoke doesn’t already have.
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