WINCHESTER civic chiefs are sounding out the public on ambitious plans for a multi-million pound sports centre on the edge of the city.

The city council is currently considering two ways of tackling the deteriorating River Park Leisure Centre, the town forum heard last night.

One is to refurbish the current site in Hyde, the other is to build a new centre on land at Bar End.

The new centre would be in partnership with the university and county council.

Steve Tilbury, corporate director, said the council was engaging with people living in the Bar End and Highcliffe areas.

He said: "We are looking to understand what the issues of importance are for local people if a major facility was to be located there. Not whether there should be a 25 or a 50 metre pool but issues like car parking, access, noise and lighting. What are the issues they are worried about and that we need to take into account."

Mr Tilbury said such an ambitious plan would need consensus support and that may be difficult if local people were strongly opposed.

Campaigners are pressing the council to build the large centre, with 50-metre pool, 5 synthetic pitches with 350-space car park at Bar End.

Emma Back, of the Sports Arts and Leisure Trust, told the town forum that it was "a once in a lifetime opportunity that the council cannot afford to miss."

The suggested site, is the artificial pitch next to the athletics track and does not include Tesco-owned King George V field, said Mr Tilbury. The council has offered to buy it but the price depends on the use.

Mr Tilbury told the forum last night: "Tesco has not responded to the chasing that we have done."

If it suggests a sports centre on the Tesco land that would greatly increase its commercial value, he said.

Meanwhile, the nearby former council depot at Bar End Road is not being actively marketed, said Mr Tilbury although the council is getting a lot of expressions of interest from developers and agents.

He said the council was flexible on the use but the council wants it to be generating income. So that might not be shops, or a car showroom.

Cllr Jim Maynard suggested a car park with new building on top; Ms Back proposed student housing.

A report will go back to council Cabinet in January. A decision on what sort of centre to build could be due in the autumn 2016.