CAMPAIGNERS who petitioned against the removal of playgrounds in their neighbourhoods will have the chance to speak out at a meeting tonight.

Residents from Popley, Hatch Warren, Kempshott and Oakley, have been invited to the borough council's Cabinet meeting as part of the authority's major consultation effort.

The play area improvement programme was halted in August after a mass outcry from residents who said they had not been consulted properly about the council's plans.

This week, council bosses said the consultation process could run into the new year.

Cllr John Shaw, Cabinet member for recreation and culture, said: "What we will have to discuss with residents across the borough as a whole is what overall sum of money people think is reasonable to spend on play areas and where that money should be spent.

"Broadly speaking, we are talking about consultation over the remaining part of the winter and into spring."

Borough council leader Rob Donnelly told The Basingstoke Extra: "We have 180 play areas in the borough so consulting interested parties on all of them will take some time.

"We don't know how long it will be before the work will recommence. But it doesn't have to wait until we have completed all the consultations before work can restart in some areas.

"My view is that we have to have sensible consultation with people about their own local play areas. It must be driven not by emotive comments but by common sense."

Cllr Donnelly added: "One of the interesting things about the kind of attention being paid to play areas is that it will bring out diverse voices that exist within communities.

"We have to put quite a bit of effort into clearing broken glass from playgrounds.

"Consultation will also take into account those residents who find living with play areas too uncomfortable."