COUNCILLORS have called for a football ground to be built at Basingstoke's Leisure Park as part of its redevelopment.

This comes following the announcement that Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has drawn up a draft plan to redevelop the leisure park.

This redevelopment will aim to update many of the facilities, which were initially constructed in the 1980s and 1990s, and identifies development plots for new attractions and activities.

At an economic, planning and housing committee meeting on Thursday, November 3, councillors shared their thoughts on the masterplan which was revealed last week. 

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During these discussions, the idea for a sports stadium was suggested by Cllr Chris Tomblin.

Cllr Tomblin said: “The elephant that hasn’t entered the room just yet would be space for a football stadium.

“That is a potential emerging land use I think we are all fully aware of, and I think it would be a generational failure if we didn’t actually think about that in this masterplan.”

The idea was supported by Cllr Andrew McCormick, who said: “I think it is incumbent on us to do what’s right for the football club.

“It’s clearly not got sufficient room to operate where it is in Winklebury, it’s a life raft venue that they’ve got there, they’ve got more teams and more users than they can do with at Winklebury."

He continued: “I think we have got a lot of space in the leisure park, and if this is going to be a forward-looking masterplan, a once in a lifetime opportunity, then we should consider putting a stadium in there”.

Further support was given by Cllr Gary Watts, who said: “Of course, we want to keep options open for a community stadium; that’s precisely what it’s going to be.

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“It’s not just going to be playing football, it going to be for all different functions.

“And I’d say this is a leisure park and this would be an ideal location for a community facility, so I support the motion.”

Cllr Onnalee Cubitt also voiced her support, calling it “an excellent motion”.

The motion was passed unanimously recommending that the cabinet updates the masterplan so there is space set aside to build a suitably sized arena in the future.

While this does not mean that the cabinet will leave space for a stadium, they will be obligated to look into the matter as a result of the motion.