THE public was asked for its views on changes at Winchester's biggest park.

The city council says the people who responded mostly like the ideas for North Walls Recreation Ground, except for two. The tower and painting the banana bridge yellow.

Susan Croker, city council head of landscape and open spaces, told the town forum there had been 580 responses to the public consultation in the early summer.

The three most popular ideas were a new plaza, a multi-functional space with toilets, benches and a coffee van; a quieter area with wild life planting; and a new perimeter track.

Ms Croker said painting the bridge was not popular "even though historically it was yellow".

The perimeter track was popular with runners who take part in the weekly parkruns at North Walls.

The consultation was for the future of the non-built parts of the track so did not include the future use of the River Park Leisure Centre, bowls club or astroturf pitches and courts.

Cllr Kelsie Learney, cabinet member for housing and asset management, told the forum that there would be an announcement in the autumn on the future of the leisure centre, now redundant with the opening of the £40m centre on the Garrison Ground at Bar End. Ideas have included a new concert hall and an outdoor Lido on the site. Legal covenants restrict the uses that can be made, such as housing.

The final proposals for North Walls will be published in November.