A NEW visitor centre, improved play equipment and better trail signage are set to transform River Hamble Country Park following an £800,000 investment.

Funded by Hampshire County Council, the authority says the aim of the massive cash injection is to attract more families to the Botley park and make it more accessible.

Civic chiefs add that once work is completed, they predict visitor numbers will increase by 10%.

Approved by recreation and heritage chief Councillor Seán Woodward, the money will be pumped into building a brand new visitor centre that includes toilets, catering, some under cover seating and a hire space that can be used by the community for learning based activities and school visits.

As well as this, the money will be used to improve play equipment – following feedback from visitors who wanted to see more opportunities for adventure and natural play, better pathways to make them more usable in all weathers.

The county council adds that the investment builds on work already underway at the park to improve the entrance and introduce Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) so visitors can pay for parking more easily.

But, as reported, bringing in ANPR was criticised by Hampshire sports clubs who used the nearby Royal Victoria Country Park.

Both Chamberlayne Athletic Football Club and Locks Heath Cricket Club claimed the parking systems could spell the end for their respective sides.

The teams, who were previously exempt from the charges, were then forced to pay to use the facilities following the installation of the barriers.