CIVIC chiefs are being urged to cough up cash to help provide a Chandler's Ford primary school with more space.

Last October Scantabout Primary School launched a fundraising initiative to provide a £200,000 extension at the school to be used by community groups as well as pupils.

Plans for the new extension include a large meeting room with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment plus a kitchen,

reception and administrative area and a disabled toilet.

Dubbed SPACE - Scantabout Primary's Appeal for a Community Environment - the innovative idea is to give pupils the opportunity to entertain and interact with elderly or disabled members of the community.

Once up and running, it is hoped that groups ranging from organisations for the blind and elderly to parent and family forums will use the centre. An outdoor adventure club has also expressed an

interest.

Head teacher Julian Pass said many of the school's partners in the project had expressed a

willingness to either help teach the children in the new room or use them in the delivery of their service.

Now Eastleigh Council's executive committee is being urged to make a slice of £475,000 the

borough received for the sale of various pieces of land in the Chandler's Ford area available to the SPACE project.

The council's Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee has already pledged to seek means of helping fund the scheme which has so far netted £35,000.

The school has targeted trust funds, corporate sponsorship plus grants from central government, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Council as possible sources of cash.

Executive councillors will consider the plea on Thursday.

Mr Pass said: "I am extremely grateful for the proactive support the school has received from the borough council and specifically those councillors on the Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee."