A PARISH council could be created to cover the centre of Eastleigh.

A new council in the Eastleigh town area could mean local people would be more involved in decision making previously.

The unparished area of the borough is currently bounded by Chandler’s Ford, Southampton, Bishopstoke, West End and Allbrook and most decisions here are made by the Eastleigh Local Area Committee.

But it has now been recommended that Eastleigh Borough Council undertakes a community governance review.

This review would mean consulting residents and local stakeholders on whether a new parish council should be created.

On February 20, the council said: “Eastleigh Borough Council has an excellent record of working in partnership with its town and parish councils to produce high quality facilities and services.

“The town and parish councils ensure that these are tailor made for each parished area and that accountability is brought as close to residents as possible.”

The role of the new parish would be to control assets like open spaces and play areas, cemeteries, community buildings and off-street car parking.

The last time a review like this took place in 2008, parish councils in both Chandler’s Ford and Allbrook were created as a result.

A council report stated that there was “not sufficient support for creating a new parish” at the time of the last review, but following changes to population, it is now up for discussion again.

Following approval, the council will have to prove that there has been a public consultation and that it has taken all views and opinions into account.

Options to be considered as part of the review include the creation of a single parish for the area, the creation of multiple parishes, or enlarging one or more neighbouring parish to cover the location.

The recommendation is to be discussed at an administration committee virtual meeting on Monday, October 12.