CIVIC campaigners are looking to open a new campaign over Winchester's main park.

The Friends of River Park (FoRP) has been battling over the future use of the redundant River Park Leisure Centre.

The city council wants to dispose of the building and nearby land to Southampton University on a 150-year lease, sparking an as yet unresolved legal battle. FoRP says the publicly-owned land was given in trust to the local authority for leisure use for all by a covenant in 1902.

The campaigners applied for a judicial review which was refused last year by the High Court, hitting them with legal costs.

Now FoRP is to press the city council to better look after the adjoining River Park which they describe as a "priceless asset to the city".

The group launched a crowdfunding campaign on December 23 with a target of £8,000, which it hopes will enable it to widen its action to protect the 32-hectare open space.

In a Facebook post, the Friends said: “If WCC proceeds with their plan, they will hand over control of an important part of the park that currently forms a vital part of the city’s main green artery, running from Winnall Moors Nature Reserve to St Cross. The area under immediate threat is bounded on three sides by the River Itchen and includes the now boarded-up remains of the old leisure centre, which is increasingly derelict and urgently needs to be knocked down and replaced by green grassland until the public can have a say in what happens next.

“We will actively pursue the demolition of the building as it is an eyesore, a health and safety issue, a magnet for anti-social behaviour and vandalism and it will continue to cost the tax-paying residents of Winchester £80,000 per annum to keep it as it is.

“In order to protect (the park), we're now extending the ambit of our operation to the whole recreation ground to ensure it is properly maintained and managed by WCC and that no inappropriate development is allowed to take place."

They said the cricket pitches, nets and pavilion need replacing and paths need resurfacing. They also criticised mess left behind by large events and raised concerns about part of the car park being allocated for private use. 

A spokesperson for Winchester City Council rejected the idea that their plans will restrict access to the park. 

They said: "The council is very proud of the much-loved public space at River Park. There never have been, and will not be, proposals to restrict access for the public to the wider park – it will continue to be part of the city’s green artery connecting Winnall Moors and St Cross and remain in use for wider recreation activities. 

"Only the site of the former leisure centre building and part of the car park are currently in discussions - not the wider park area. Our Park Plan was developed after hearing the views of over 800 people and we continue to invest in the park. Over £100,000 each year is spent on the maintenance and restoration. 

"In addition to this, in the last year alone the council has invested over £450,000 which included; renovating the play area, upgrading the tennis courts, lighting for the 3G football area and installing toilet facilities. We will continue to invest each year in upgrading and maintaining River Park for all users."