RESIDENTS will soon be able to have their say on plans for the future of Basingstoke’s leisure park, including a vision for the popular Aquadrome.

A consultation will be launched later this month on the plans to modernise the Aquadrome and how Basingstoke Leisure Park “can be given an exciting and sustainable future”.

NewRiver Retail were due to redevelop the complex into a designer retail village alongside a host of new facilities, but it pulled of the scheme in October last year, leaving the future of Planet Ice and the Aquadrome up in the air.

It was revealed that the ice rink needs urgent repairs due to a permafrost build-up which will eventually lead to it not working properly.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is working alongside a team of experts to determine what future opportunities there are for the park.

A masterplan is also being drawn up by multidisciplinary architecture and urban design practice BDP, with leisure specialists FMG looking at the most viable mix of facilities for the Aquadrome and property consultants JLL advising on market viability.

Stewart Tempest, chairman of the junior ice hockey club, attended a meeting with BDP to discuss his future vision for the park.

“It was about what we saw as a group – what we would like to see in the leisure park,” he said.

“I think they said May time they will get something out – they’re talking to any user groups about the park.

“In February they’re going into the malls and go out and do a consultation with the public.

“What they’re saying is – they want to put larger public spaces on there and add to it but they don’t know what they want to add yet.

“They’ve got to find some sort of revenue generation to pay for the Aquadrome – the contentious thing is that housing hasn’t been ruled out.

“From the conversations I had with the architects they’re saying nothing’s ruled out – it’s either going to be retail or it will be workspace.”

New plans for the Aquadrome could include a soft play zone, a climbing wall, spinning studio, extra health suite facilities, a larger competition swimming pool with eight lanes, a learner pool, upgraded leisure waters with a range of fun activities and a larger fitness suite with more stations.

The well-used Aquadrome is a council facility, which is managed by Basingstoke and Community Leisure Trust and run by Serco.

Although the leisure park itself belongs to the council, most of the buildings there are owned on long leases by the operators or their landlords. They will have an opportunity to input their own ideas for investing in new or improved facilities.

As well as developing plans for the leisure plans, the council is also keen to see how any proposal would work together with the emerging plans for Basingstoke town centre, that could see an increased leisure offer there, and other proposals to link up leisure facilities, open spaces and heritage attractions in the area.

Early discussions with councillors about the master plan options have also considered if some additional development could make good use of the vacant land at the park, especially near the railway line.

The council has said to support and help fund the improvement of the Aquadrome and the environment of the park, all options are being looked at, including employment uses or even some residential.

Later this month two one-hour engagement sessions will take place – February 16 at 6pm and February 18 at 12 noon – to give park users, residents and community groups the chance to hear more about the possible options, as well as an opportunity to ask questions.

This is the first phase of public consultation as options are drawn up for one of the borough's most popular leisure attractions. More information and a questionnaire to gather feedback will be available via the website from February 16 until March 20.

Cabinet member for finance and major projects, Cllr John Izett said: “A renewed Aquadrome would represent a significant investment in Basingstoke and the health and wellbeing of local people at a time when other councils around the country are cutting back on their leisure investment.

“Our leisure park and Aquadrome are among the most popular leisure attractions in the borough, enjoyed by many of our residents and their families. But they need to be updated. As a council we are committed to finding the means to deliver a modern Aquadrome and better, more exciting and environmentally sustainable attractions at our leisure park. We are holding the online sessions to give people a chance to hear more about the possible options at this early stage. Through the questionnaire we are hoping to gather lots of views to help us reach conclusions on a new master plan that will make this a ‘must visit’ place in the years ahead.”

To allow as many people as possible to join, the sessions will be hosted through www.leisureparkbasingstoke.co.uk

Recordings of the sessions will be put on the website and paper versions of the information and questionnaire will be available.