COUNCIL officers will move forward with plans to redevelop Basingstoke's leisure park, despite councillors branding the ideas as 'disappointing', a 'missed opportunity' and 'unambitious'.

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.

As previously reported, 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. 

As part of the plans, a new Aquadrome could be built by the council in a new location on 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.

SEE ALSO: Councillors criticise Basingstoke Leisure Park masterplan

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.

Borough councillors had previously 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.

During this week's cabinet meeting, council leader Simon Bound read out a statement on Cllr Izett's behalf.

READ MORE: Basingstoke's town centre masterplan reaches milestone stage

He said: "Cllr Izett [cabinet member for finance and property] is delighted to recommend to the cabinet to go forward with a new masterplan to totally transform the leisure park. 

"This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring amazing new leisure attractions to our residents, visitors and their families. 

"We can at the same time invest in what's already there and supplement the popular activities.

"The masterplan is a framework allowing us to select the best mix of new attractions in the market to complement the existing ones. The level and quality of the interest are encouraging."

In the emerging capital programme, the council is proposing to make an allocation of over £40m for a new Aquadrome and £20m in improvements across the leisure park. 

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Cllr Bound continued: "A great deal has been achieved in bringing forward this masterplan framework. Residents have one very clear message, stop talking about it and 'get on with it'."

On Tuesday, many councillors spoke against going forward with plans.

The leader of the Basingstoke Independents, Cllr Paul Harvey, said: "New River Retail’s glossy pictures of zip slides, a retail paradise and big buildings have, I feel, certainly poisoned the approach to the leisure park. It’s as if that debacle has sucked the life out of any ambition and we are happy with whatever we can get from the market. That’s how the council’s current approach comes over to people across the borough."

Cllr Gavin James, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group agreed, adding he read the plans with "great disappointment".

He said: "It ignores councillors, it also ignores the leisure park operators and users. We say we listen but we really didn't and that is a really sad place to be."

Another speaker to express their disappointment was Cllr Alex Lee who said the plan fails to meet the goals of the borough and "misses opportunity after opportunity".