PLANS to increase the number of shops in Ringwood could be given a boost on Wednesday.

New Forest councillors will decide whether to fund a £20,000 consultation exercise on how to redevelop the visitor information centre area of the Furlong car park.

A report going to New Forest District Council's Cabinet on Wednesday says three options were considered by a steering group - a purely retail scheme, a mixed retail, municipal and social development including a public hall and one excluding shops but providing a hall and council facilities.

Councillor Michael Thierry, a member of the ruling Cabinet, wants to have the tourist information centre, public toilets, council offices and community hall on the one site.

He said Ringwood did not have a large community hall for plays to be staged, films to be shown or large-scale meetings to be held.

"It's all very well investing in retail but we need to invest in the community," he said.

Cllr Thierry pointed out that the council already owns the land and the sale of the redundant public offices in Christchurch Road could pay for the project.