A PADDLING pool on Southampton Common is set to be replaced with a £500,000 state-of-the-art play area.

Council planners approved the scheme, which will include a seven-and-a-half metre play tower and feature rope bridges, tunnels, and a slide.

But what do our readers think?

Daily Echo:

Grandfather-of-two David Fitzgerald, 68, from Freemantle, pictured above, said: "I do not think there is any reason to take away the paddling pool. So many people use it during the summer - it is always packed. "

Daily Echo:

Mum-of-six Sasha Rampton, 47, from Portsmouth, pictured above, said: "I think the revamp is a good idea. As children grow up, they need to be familiar with water so I think the water play is needed."

Daily Echo:

Mum-of-one Alex Hnat, 37, from Milbrook, pictured above, said: "I think it is a good idea to keep the water feature - my little one loves to play in it. If the whole park is going to be revamped, I am happy. I would like to see more swings introduced as there is sometimes a queue to use the existing ones."

Daily Echo:

Dad-of-one Graham Thatcher, 43, from Shirley, pictured above, said: "An awful lot of people use the paddling pool, but it does look dirty often. £500,000 is a lot of money but if its going to be well-used, why can't the kids use and enjoy the common as much as the adults?"

Daily Echo:

Grandmother-of-three Mary Treacy, 79, from Portswood, pictured above, said: "I think it is a shame that the paddling pool is going. I can see the idea of developing facilities for children - it is really quite needed because there is a large population nearby."

Daily Echo:

Grandfather-of-eight Derek Hannah, 83, from Winsor, pictured above, said: "Each time I have been up here during the summer, the paddling pool has been absolutely mobbed. There are usually people picnicking around the pool too. The pool is already there, so why get rid of it? "