THE future of a well-loved community park is up for debate as it is set to become home to a new football ground.
Plans were approved last year to erect standing and seated stalls and a fence on an area of Mansel Park in Millbrook.
The football grounds would be for Millbrook FC based on Kendal Avenue, and would give the community team the chance to progress in the sport.
However, the plans have sparked controversy among the community, with some claiming they will be losing a section of the park.
READ MORE: Local community football receives funding to help keep youth 'off the street'
A total of 13 objection letters were submitted, but 15 letters of support were also received.
This week, the city council agreed unanimously to advertise the disposal of land at Mansel Park to the football club.
It will be open for the public to comment in support or against.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, co-chair of Millbrook FC, Eugene McManus explained that the disposal of land means the club will be "leasing the land from the council".
He said: "We are asking for an extended lease and small additional area which we have been maintaining and had full use of since 2013."
Millbrook FC has 26 teams with more than 500 club members aged from seven-years-old and above.
The club has secured funding from the Football Foundation and it is expected the development will cost around £80k. Work could start as soon as May 2023.
Eugene added: "Mansel Park currently does not fit the league criteria, in the first instance it benefits the first team in the round it benefits our club with the pathway and in turn, our community as no longer will they have to travel outside of the area to play a higher level of football.
"In the east of the city you have Sholing, Hamble and Follands, to the west is Totton and Ealing, Brockenhurst, Lymington and more.
"Why should our community this side of the city continue to be deprived of a community club with step six facilities?"
It is hoped that the fences around the site will also prevent the antisocial use of motorbikes on the football fields.
The club has said that the area will still be accessible to the public when the fields are not in use by the club.
One local resident who lives in Millbrook Towers spoke in objection at the meeting.
She claims that she has "no problem" with the team playing in the park, however raised concerns about the club "encroaching more and more".
She said: "I'm told they're going to have high fence there, which is going to stop people walking where they normally walk.
"Many years ago we did have problem with children, but we had a youth group.
"They asked if they could have a skatepark put in, but they were told no.
"But then two minutes up the road, it's given to the football.
"Now still, there is a lot of trouble in the park but there's nothing there for them to do.
"You have the play park for the younger children but what is there for the older ones?"
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