THE feeling of anger is mutual among councillors after it was revealed that a plan to redevelop the Basingstoke leisure park will take a step forward, despite the criticism it received.

As previously reported the leisure park on the outskirts of Basingstoke town centre is a popular destination enjoyed by many residents and their families. But the facilities at the park were mostly developed in the 1980s and 1990s and it is now in need of updating to meet the needs of the borough’s community and reflect changing trends and demand in leisure.

Last year Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) unveiled a draft masterplan setting an overall vision to guide future development. It was created by a team of experts advising the council — as the owner of the leisure park, and shaped by comments and views expressed in a consultation that ran during February and March 2022. 

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As part of the plans, a new Aquadrome could be built by the council in a new location in the leisure park. All other facilities, including the ice rink, Milestones museum, the cinema, bingo and bowling, will stay in place with operators encouraged to improve and enhance them.

A re-designed park running from east to west is central to the proposals, connecting new and improved attractions with green open spaces, picnic spots and a range of free outdoor activities, which could include ‘pop up’ events, nature trails, an outdoor gym and play areas.

During a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, January 10, members agreed to move forward with the plan despite the wide criticism it has received.

Reacting to the news, the leader of the BDBC Independent group Paul Harvey said: "They are not listening to anybody and it is as if they have their heads in the sand. They are not paying attention to what any councillor, member of the public or stakeholders have got to say. 

"It is just 'we know best' and we are going to get on with it. Every time they do that they fail and trip themselves up and we wind up in a mess. We have got a mess in Basing View, the town centre, the leisure park and in Manydown. Every major project that this cabinet touches they fail at."

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The feeling was shared by Cllr Gavin James, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group who branded the decision as "pathetic".

He told the Gazette: "They voted for the motion that asked them to go back and look and it again and then in the first Cabinet meeting of the year they have decided to vote against themselves as well as the rest of us."

Meanwhile, the leader of the Labour group said he hopes to ask the Cabinet to recall their decision.

He said: "I think it shows contempt of the council that they had a council motion telling them not to pass the cabinet decision on the existing masterplan and they just ignored it. We will be exploring our options at this stage and ask them to call that decision in."