PLANS to revamp and extend a sports pavilion in Hampshire have moved a step forward.

The design to extend and revamp Hiltingbury Pavilion in Chandler’s Ford has been accepted.during a meeting of Chandler’s Ford parish council.

The proposal aims at creating a four-badminton court sports hall which could also provide a space for five-a-side football and tennis.

It also includes plans for the refurbishment of the existing pavilion and removal and replacement of the first floor with a fitness room and two concessions rooms and a 40-space temporary car park at the Ashdown Road entrance for the construction period.

After the meeting Cllr Margaret Atkinson, Chairman of the Parish Council, said: “This is an exciting and positive development for our Parish, as the proposed new pavilion will replace an old and dilapidated building that has been an eyesore for too long.

“The refurbishment of the existing Hiltingbury Pavilion has been a long-term desire of the parish council as it will provide better sports facilities, not only for Hiltingbury, but for the whole community of Chandler’s Ford.

“Passing this resolution is the next step in the planning process, and we now look forward to further consultations with residents so we are able to accommodate as many uses as possible for the new pavilion.”

The centre has been owned by the parish council since April 2016.

However, the proposal for its revamp has sparked a heated debate between residents.

A comment of a parishioner on Facebook reads: “I strongly feel that the significance of this proposal on the local community has not been fully appreciated within the community.

“Hiltingbury Rec is a beautiful, rural-esque setting in which the new “box” would be over-bearing, out of scale and out of character. I believe that with some architectural or landscaping modifications to blend the building into its environment the proposal would be vastly improved and less objectionable to parishioners. Would the council be willing to consider this?”

The proposal is now set to be submitted to Eastleigh Borough Council for approval in the near future.