EASTLEIGH Council's failure to pump cash into an ambitious £1m project to build a new community sports hall at Chandler's Ford's Toynbee School could sound the death knell for the scheme, a leading councillor has claimed.

Chandler's Ford representative Colin Davidovitz had pleaded with the borough's powerful executive committee to support the sports college's bid for a lottery grant after his own local area committee had agreed to stump up £50,000 towards the scheme. The school, he said, had allocated £80,000 to the project and Hampshire County Council was prepared to chip in with £150,000 for the community scheme.

But his call to secure funding of about £150,000 from the executive was rejected after council leader Keith House said the authority just did not have the cash available.

"I think it has killed the scheme," said Cllr Davidovitz.

The idea was for Fleming Park Leisure Centre operators DC Leisure to run the proposed state-of-the-art facility as a satellite to Fleming Park. Now Cllr Davidovitz says a smaller sports hall is likely to be built for the exclusive use of the school.

When asked where the borough council's decision would leave the project, Toynbee School head David Jones said: "I think it is a bit early to comment. When I have had a chance to talk to the relevant people I will take stock of it."

Executive councillor for leisure, Councillor Alan Broadhurst, said: "The offer of money next year and the year after is the best we can come up with but that won't stop us from seeking other ways."