Views sought on £18m waterfront revamp

Gosport has won £18m to spend on its waterfront regeneration

People who live in or visit Gosport are being asked their views on regenerating the waterfront.

The council won an £18m levelling up grant in 2023 to help improve public areas and enhance access to the waterfront's heritage.

A roadshow with the project team is going to leisure centres, libraries and community centres in the town over the next few weeks.

Some residents who attended on the first day said they were worried new hospitality units could affect businesses elsewhere in the town.

Others said there wasn't enough information about the redevelopment of the old bus station.

Adrian Powell attended the waterfront regeneration roadshow and said he was worried about too many hospitality units

The Liberal Democrat council promised a people's park in the run up to the last local election in May 2024.

But Rosemary Smith, from Gosport, was angry there was no information on that pledge.

"I came along to find out what that was but it's not really explained," she said.

Adrian Powell, who lives in the town, said: "Improvements to the waterfronts will be good but we do also need more car parking for people who want to drop people off to use the ferry."

Edith Kinghorn and Rosemary Smith gave their views on the waterfront, but wanted more information about the old bus station site

Councillor Peter Chegwyn, leader of Gosport Borough Council, said: "The council has exciting plans to transform the former bus station site into a new People's Park with a bandstand and new food and drink outlets.

"This week's consultation roadshows are the first in a series of events where the public can have their say on the proposals and how we can breathe new life into Gosport town centre.

"The new People's Park is expected to open in July this year with the full redevelopment being completed by July 2026."

The roadshow is due to visit various places in Gosport over the next two weeks.