PEOPLE living close to a former Hampshire naval airbase want it to become a sports centre and hotel.

A survey of Lee-on-the-Solent residents has revealed their top priority for regenerating the area is building a hotel, conference centre and sports and leisure complex at HMS Daedalus. The old wardroom on the site and the conservation area adjacent to it are seen as the ideal spot.

Members of Vision4Lee, a group set up to encourage regeneration, are frustrated that they are still no nearer to learning what will become of the 500-acre site, nine years after it was decommissioned by the Royal Navy.

Chairman Bob Squirrell said: "This would be a most effective way of making use of the site, which has stood idle since the Navy moved out in 1996.

"The problem is that the MoD has yet to release the land, so it is difficult for us to include this proposal in our regeneration plans at this stage."

Defence chiefs say a report on the way forward will not be published until after the General Election next month.

However, the involvement of government agencies the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) in the planning stages looks likely to signal housing and industry as well as continued use for air-sea rescue operations.

Controversial plans for an asylum seeker centre on the site were scrapped last February.

Other ideas include a business or science park, a privately run airfield, a hospital and a training facility for military personnel.

Vision4Lee, which was formed in February, is busy compiling a "health check" on the market town, which has been identified for regeneration, in a bid to win grant funding.

Residents are encouraged to get involved.

A first meeting of volunteers will be held at Lee Community Centre in Twyford Avenue at 4pm on Sunday, May 15.

Call 023 9255 2855 or e-mail volunteer@vision4lee.com for details.