VIEWS are being sought this weekend on plans for a new £800,000 visitor centre and car park at Frensham Great Pond and Common.

Anyone with an interest in the site are being invited to have their say on Waverley Borough Council’s ‘Heathland Hub’ plans on Saturday (July 21) from 10am to 4pm at the Frensham Pond Hotel.

Council officers will be on hand to answer any questions about the proposals, which include demolishing the existing, ageing visitor centre, cafe and toilet block and replacing it with a new “eco-friendly” visitor hub on the same site.

This will come complete with a new cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, toilets, a ranger’s office and multi-function room.

The proposals also include changes to the car park layout and the introduction of parking machines, which Waverley says will help to free up rangers’ time to focus on conservation tasks and help reduce problem parking and congestion on Bacon Lane.

Waverley initially proposed a larger, more contemporary new visitor centre on the site, but was forced to scale back its plans following opposition by land owners the National Trust.

As the site is home to a number of rare and protected species, a number of conservation tasks will also take place as part of the project, including creating some new small ponds for the protected Natterjack Toad.

As Frensham Great Pond and Common is protected by national and international designations, special consent needs to be obtained from the Planning Inspectorate before any construction work can begin.

Waverley leader Julia Potts said: “The proposals are designed to improve the visitor experience, provide better management of the site and provide better conditions to help the wildlife to thrive.

“The existing building is unable to cope with the current and future demands of visitors and is uneconomical to run. The proposed new building will be sustainable, energy efficient and provide a more pleasant base for visitors to meet, eat and find out about the site and its wildlife, meaning visitors can enjoy their stay at the beautiful site even more than they already do.”

People can record their views at the consultation event, email [email protected], or write to Fenella Lewin at: Forest Office, Cold Harbour, Wareham, BH20 7PA. The deadline for submissions is August 20.