BASINGSTOKE MP Andrew Hunter is making a last-ditch plea to the Government to step in over controversial plans to close Beech Down Primary School.

Last Friday, members of the School Organisation Committee backed the decision of Cllr Don Allen, Hampshire's executive member for education, that the school in Brighton Hill should close in August 2004.

Cllr Allen's closure proposal is part of a wider plan which will see the sale of the arson-hit Beech Down site and the expansion of other local schools.

This week, Mr Hunter said he was "deeply disappointed" by the committee's decision to confirm the closure of Beech Down Primary. He is writing to the Education Secretary to ask the Government to stop the closure plan - but he admits he does not hold out much hope of a change of heart.

Referring to the School Organisation Committee meeting, Mr Hunter told The Gazette: "It sounds as if it descended into something of a farce at the end, with some people not turning up and committee members who were thought to want to retain the school voting to close it.

"It's the end of the road and it's a tragedy. I think the wrong decision has been made.

"I will get in touch with the Secretary of State for Education - but I am not expecting to achieve anything by it whatsoever.

"It is a final protest on behalf of the parents of the Beech Down pupils. But I would not want to raise their hopes, thinking the school might be saved in some way.

"I shall do some detective work to find out exactly what went on at the committee meeting. It sounds as if some members of the committee didn't live up to their responsibilities."

If only one member of the committee had voted against the closure plan, it would have meant that an adjudicator appointed by the Education Secretary would have reviewed the decision and could have overturned it.