A BOLD new look for Dinton Pastures is on the cards after the council announced a £1.8 million revamp for its activity centre.
The site is already home to a range of water-based activities including kayaking, sailing, paddle boarding and canoeing and has an existing building to house these activities, accessed via the Sandford Lane entrance.
Next week, Wokingham Borough Council will hold a special drop-in session for residents to see the plans for the new facility, which it says will blend in with the natural surroundings.
The building will be two-storey, with a veranda on the first floor allowing people to enjoy views across the lakes.
It will also have six large red chimneys on the roof and a two-tone cladding approach.
Outside the main entrance, there will be parking spaces for both cars and bikes, and a ramp to enable wheelchair and buggy access.
The architectural drawings also include many trees, ensuring that the site keeps its eco-friendliness.
Inside the building, there will be an activity hall and a coffee shop.
To help residents understand the proposals, Wokingham Borough Council will hold a drop-in session on Friday, November 15.
Running at the current Dinton Activity Centre from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, it will be an opportunity to see the architectural drawings and discuss the design with project officers from the Council.
Cllr Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said that feedback from residents will help to shape the final design of the new centre.
And the council is keen to get a move on: it hopes that plans will be approved so that work can start in spring next year and the centre can open in the summer.
The current Dinton Activity Centre will be open as normal while the works take place.
Cllr Batth added: “We know that Dinton Pastures Country Park is well-loved by our residents across the borough, welcoming over 20,500 visitors just this year.
“That’s why I believe it is so important that we continue to invest in its upkeep, which includes providing a fit for purpose activity centre that can provide enjoyment for our residents and future generations to come.”
