THE borough council has been told to go back to the drawing board by its own councillors on plans for the leisure park, calling its current vision ‘disappointing, insipid and uninspiring’.

Members of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council heavily criticised the masterplan approved by the authority’s cabinet in October and have now told officers to explore further options for the site.

Proposed by Cllr Angie Freeman, the motion presented to the full council meeting on Thursday, December 15, called out the scheme for not including key attractions ‘that would make the park a regional destination and generate economic advantage for the borough’ such as 50-metre swimming pool and a snow dome. 

It also urged the council to include a multi-use stadium, which could become the new home of Basingstoke Town Football Club, after it was kicked out of the Camrose by its former owner Rafi Razzak and his company Basron.

READ MORE: Major new plans unveiled for future of Basingstoke Leisure Park

Cllr Freeman said: “I was quite disappointed, we have spoken many times about the need for big draws, something that is going to pull in all the people.

“This leisure park regeneration is a once-in-a-generation chance to do something really big, it needs to be inspired.”

She continued: “There are so many different things that we could put on that leisure park that will bring people to Basingstoke, but the offering we have before us with the current masterplan is pretty much devoid of any of that inspiration. 

“I don't understand we had such big ideas, such good visions from various councillors, cross-party, I do not understand why we have come up with such an insipid masterplan, we could do an awful lot better for Basingstoke.”

The consensus in the council chamber was that space should be given a sports stadium, with the leader of the Labour group, Cllr Andrew McCormick, saying that it could be deemed as ‘passive provision’ to allow the club time to decide if this is what they want. 

He continued: “I appreciate that the club may not have the financial muscle to build a large 2,000 plus seater stadium but in 20 years' time we might have a football club that has that financial muscle. We only get one shot at this, if we put this masterplan in place and we don't have this passive provision then we are basically going to lock out that opportunity from the leisure park for the next 50 years.”

SEE ALSO: Councillors call for football ground to be added to plans for leisure park

Leader of the Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group, Cllr Paul Harvey spoke about the loss of the £300m New River redevelopment agreement last year.  

He said: “It's almost like this (the masterplan) is living in the shadow of all of that.

"We don't want a second-rate leisure park, we don't want to have that poverty of aspiration. The masterplan takes you so far."

Cllr Harvey also urged the council to think about how the leisure park connects with the town centre and Basing View.

Seconding the motion, Cllr Andy Konieczko said: “This motion asks us not just to create a set of facilities that will meet the needs of our growing population but also a destination that we can all be proud of and a destination that will attract visitors from the surrounding regions and benefit our economy. 

“Let's deliver a leisure park that our residents and borough deserve.”

However, not all were in agreement, deputy leader Cllr John Izett, said he was disappointed by the reaction to the masterplan.

The cabinet member for finance and property continued: “I don't think this is an accurate or fair representation of all the work that has gone into the masterplan. 

“I don't think that this council committing to building a new aquadrome at a cost of some £40m demonstrates and lack of ambition on behalf of this council. Absolutely we are ambitious and bold and want the reimagined leisure park to be a regional attraction, bringing many more visitors to the borough, creating lots of excellent new career opportunities and mutually benefitting our town centre.

“Nothing has been decided on what will eventually be provided on our new leisure park. This masterplan is a framework. The point is we have opened up this opportunity to the leisure marketplace globally. I am pleased to report that the leisure industry is very interested in what we have to offer at Basingstoke.”

No date has been given for when the masterplan will come back before councillors.