BOROUGH council chiefs must reconsider plans for Basingstoke's leisure park as councillors call for ideas to be taken back to the drawing board.
As previously reported, the authority's cabinet decided to move forward with plans to redevelop Basingstoke Leisure Park, despite councillors branding the masterplan as 'disappointing', a 'missed opportunity' and 'unambitious'.
Last year Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) unveiled a draft masterplan setting an overall vision to guide future development.
As part of the plans, a new Aquadrome will be built, while all other facilities including the ice rink, Milestones museum, cinema, bingo and bowling will stay in place with operators encouraged to improve and enhance the buildings.
READ MORE Councillors to reconsider 'disappointing' leisure park plans
During a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, January 10, members agreed to move forward with plans despite councillors asking for further options to be considered.
During a BDBC scrutiny committee meeting held on Tuesday, February 14 councillors asked for the decision to be reconsidered on the grounds that the plan lacks vision when alternative options were put forward including a 50-metre pool, a snow dome, and a multi-use sports stadium.
During the meeting, Cllr Andrew McCormick the leader of the Labour group said: "It was apparent when the had the initial proposals for the leisure plan that it lacked the vision to the extent we had a motion before the full council to that effect that was passed. That then went into cabinet last month and the order of the agenda items on the paper suggested the decision to do nothing with the council motion had been made in advance.
"The fact that the plan lacks vision has been further evidenced by the papers before you tonight, which show a very negative outlook installed from the top down by 17 years of lacklustre administration."
SEE ALSO: Leisure park: Basingstoke councillors angry as plans move forward
Cllr Andy Konieczko added: "When I read through the papers I kept hearing the same message repeated time and time again. There is no other realistic alternative to the current plans, the 50-metre swimming pool will be too costly to build and maintain, and building a sports stadium is too big of an investment and anyway it is the responsibility of the private sector. If commercial operators don't want to run a snow dome then it does not make commercial sense for us to have one.
"In fact, let's just stick with a slightly newer version of what we have already got, it won't cost us too much and it is better than doing nothing."
Despite this, Cllr John Izett, the cabinet member for finance and property, said he was "surprised a call-in" had been made.
READ ALSO: Basingstoke leisure park: Plans giving backing despite wide criticism
He said: "Let me assure this committee there is no lack of ambition for spectacular new leisure in this borough on the part of myself or this administration, quite the reverse. This will become evident to councillors when as publically indicated we publish leisure proposals, which at present must remain confidential ahead of the next cabinet meeting."
He said plans are just a framework but ideas like the 50-metre pool are not realistic but said, "nothing is off the cards".
Councillors agreed the decision should be sent back to the cabinet and they will be re-evaluated at a meeting within the next ten working days.
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