CIVIC chiefs are to "ask the people" whether they like plans to revitalise Eastleigh's Victorian park.

A council working party has been busy drawing up proposals for the popular Leigh Road recreation ground, close to the shopping centre.

Ideas include new pathways, improved planted areas, a redesigned and re-equipped play area and better seating and lighting.

A new focal point centre around the bandstand which could feature the town's first water feature has also been mooted.

But before any plans for the recreation ground are drawn up, the council is set to hold an exhibition at The Point dance and arts centre on Monday, November 4 so that locals can voice their opinions and come forward with their own suggestions.

Council staff will man the exhibition from 10.30am to 6.30pm and will be keen to receive input on how residents would like to see the area improved. The recreation ground was acquired by Eastleigh Urban District Council in 1896 and was originally laid out with football pitches and tennis courts.

Facilities for formal sports are now accommodated at Fleming Park Leisure Centre and playing fields but the Leigh Road rec is acknowledged as being as important as ever to local people, shoppers and visitors as a place for relaxation and events.

Now, cash from developers building new homes in the town centre will finance improvements to the park.

At a recent meeting of the council's Eastleigh local area committee councillors heard that over £200,000 was likely to be available to give the park a facelift.

In a report, committee members were told: "The open space has suffered from a lack of an overall strategic masterplan over recent years and has experienced ad hoc improvements with little relation to the overall effect.

"The opportunity now arises to create a forward-looking masterplan for the whole of the site that encompasses existing features of environmental, cultural and historical significance as well as promoting innovative design through the imaginative use of the space.

"The extent of the currently secured funds is not anticipated to cover all of the proposed works but act merely as a starting point which is hoped will provide a catalyst for future funding."