The public consultation held over the weekend showcased three options for development – which include water features, event space, or a refurbished pavilion – in the latest in a series of events working towards the final design for the century-old Victorian park.

Option one was based on ‘heritage’ and is focused keeping the history of the park alive, a ‘formal’ option includes plans for an events space; and the ‘water’ option promoted the idea for a water garden, incorporating commemorative trees. The plan is to end up with a park which has an amalgamation of features from all three options.

Jon Simmons, a partner at architect firm Gillespies – which hosted the Friday and Saturday consultation – told the Advertiser there had been a ‘positive’ response from the public.

He said: “I’m really pleased, the purpose of today is to get people to fill in questionnaires and we’ll preferably have one plan.

“We’ve had a really good response and we’re going to take the best ideas and the challenge will be to weave it into a park. It’s about making the facilities work best.” The consultation was visited by residents of all ages, including a group of school pupils who said they would like to see an ice cream van, crazy golf course, and a trampoline.

Other people said that they would like to see the traditional parts of the park maintained along with the addition of modern facilities – whilst there was some objection to proposals to knock down part of the rear wall of the memorial garden.

There was also some division in public opinion regarding the clearance of trees as part of the heritage option and those who wanted to see the natural setting of the park maintained.

Hermitage Park has already benefited from a £2m grant from Heritage Lottery Fund Parks for People as part of a two stage application. Argyll and Bute Council has also earmarked £260,000 for the project.

Charity group the Friends of Hermitage Park (FHP) has also worked in conjunction with Argyll and Bute Council and vowed to raise £20,000.

Chris Sanders, a trustee of FHP, told the Advertiser he was pleased with how the consultation was going. He said: “I think it’s an interesting range of ideas, I think option three is very good, it is keeping the traditional setting of the park.” Mr Sanders added: “There is going to be a conflict between people who want an older Victorian park and people who want a more modern park, but we hope all this will get more ideas.” Melissa Simpson, development officer for Hermitage Park, said the council had been working hard with FHP throughout the consultation period as well as nearby schools Hermitage primary and Parklands School to develop a play park.

She said: “We’re trying to improve the facilities for everybody and we have been talking to a wide range of organisations and trying to develop the facilities as fully as possible.” Ms Simpson said she was also in the process of applying to a number of organisations for funding including the Ministry of Defence Community Covenant Grant and Historic Scotland.

Lomond North councillor George Freeman said: “It’s still early but we would hope that over the consultation a good number of people will have seen the plans and made their comments and hopefully this consultation will have been constructive.” Argyll and Bute Council will continue to seek public opinion into the design of Hermitage Park and will unveil a single masterplan to the public on April 29.

A spokesman for the council said there had been a ‘steady flow’ of people attending the event. He added: “Moving forward we will continue to seek the views of as many people as possible, using it to inform the final plans. In particular we would like more comments from younger users and will be consulting scouts, cubs, brownies and girl guides this week. The comments will be analysed, using a weighted matrix, which will allow us to come up with a single masterplan which is due to be presented to the public on April 29.

He added: “We want people to use the park and to enjoy it; feedback from the public is vitally important and we would encourage anyone with a view to contact Melissa Simpson, who will be happy to help.” A copy of the three plans and a brief explanation of each can be found on Argyll and Bute’s website website along with a digital survey.