IMPROVEMENTS costing £146,000 to two open spaces in Basingstoke have begun, following changes to the design after a public consultation.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has now begun work to open spaces in Cranbourne Lane and Radford Gardens, which is being paid for from contributions from Kinghtspur Homes for its development on land behind Wella House, in Wella Road.

However, the initial plans to build a MUGA (multi-use games area) have been scrapped following public consultation.

READ MORE: MUGA to be built in Basingstoke open space using £146k from developers

The council wanted to create a junior MUGA on the field off Cranbourne Lane with basketball hoops and goals, located next to the existing children’s play park.

However, following a public consultation in January and February, the authority said it changed the plans because of “a couple of suggestions that emerged” during the consultation.

A council spokesperson said that ward councillors explored these ideas which included scrapping the MUGA and instead installing goals.

They added: “Feedback from residents was largely positive.”

Work started on September 20 and is expected to take between 12 and 16 weeks, finishing in December.

It will include trim trail equipment; a youth workout station; a 1.5 metre wide path; a kickabout area with goals; new benches; a four-metre wide no-mow area; and wildflower turf planting.