HAMPSHIRE residents are being asked for their views on the future of one of the region’s best-loved waterways.

Organisers at charity Groundwork are conducting a consultation to find out how improvements to Riverside Park should be made.

The Eastleigh based organisation – which works with the Environment Agency – says work to replace the sluice gate at Woodmill could cost up to £800,000, but in its present state it stops fish from migrating through the waters, needs constant maintenance work and “serves little purpose.”

And they say £100,000 has already been spent on it in the last five years, with periods of heavy flooding adding to the cost of clearing debris and maintaining the site.

Now they have come up with four options to improve the area - but are also looking for public suggestions as well.

Option one would involve replacing the sluice gate completely.

The second choice would be to remove the sluice gate meaning the stretch of the Itchen Navigation beside Riverside Park would become tidal, allowing for better fish passage but leading to a drop of water levels on the river.

Option three would be to remove the sluice gate and build weirs, bringing the water level of the river down in controlled sections, leaving the upper part unaffected by changing water levels or tidal patterns. This would also promote better fish passage.

And option four would involve blocking off the existing sluice gate and creating a new white-water canoe course through Woodmill with a salmon pass built in.

Groundworks team manager Christopher Smith said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the public to have their input.

“These options are really just initial ideas and we know they could work but we want people to come forward with any other suggestions they might have.

“It’s public money and it has to be spent in the best way possible.”

The EA and Groundwork say the wooden structure is “failing more frequently” and is thought to be stopping fish from fulfilling its potential as they - especially salmon - can’t get through to more natural habitats further along the river.

A spokesperson said: “The water control mechanism at Woodmill Pool is now reaching the end of its economic life - costs of maintenance are generally increasing as reliability deteriorates and occasional alterations to comply with legislation are made. “The structure cannot simply be ‘let go’ without causing significant impacts on users of Riverside Park due to the structure currently controlling the flow of water through to the Salmon Pool, a drop of two metres in height. Letting the structure go would therefore significantly lower water levels in Riverside Park, creating numerous health and safety risks and substantially changing the aesthetics of the area.

“A solution which allows for the decommissioning of the structure, improves fish passage and maintains or improves the recreational and cultural value of the Itchen and Riverside Park therefore needs to be identified. This is your opportunity to help decide what is done.”

Representatives from EA and Groundwork will be at Woodmill on June 18 from 9am-4.30 to answer questions from the public.

Woodmill marks the start of the Itchen Navigation which was built in 1655, but it is understood the mill and sluice were built later.