State-of-the-art water sports facility to be built at Lakeside Country Park in Eastleigh

Plans to build the state-of-the-art facility at Lakeside Country Park in Eastleigh which would upgrade the current facilities were approved by councillors last night.

Members of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee welcomed the plans which they said would enhance the venue and bring it up to date.

The proposal will see the current small visitors’ centre and barns replaced by two new buildings twice the size.

The proposal will see the current small visitors’ centre and barns replaced by two new buildings twice the size.

The centre, which could be ready by Spring 2016, would offer six changing rooms, increased storage, toilets, catering, a function room with seating for 60 people, an office for staff and disabled changing facilities.

Cllr Paul Bicknell, chair of the meeting, said: "This is a huge improvement.

"The buildings are life expired, well past their sell by date.

"It's a well thought out building in keeping with the park and is environmentally friendly."

He also praised the disabled facilities that would open the park to everybody.

Councillors also agreed to allow temporary buildings in the car park to replace the current facilities during building work.