THOUSANDS of parents across Whiteley were given fresh hope of having a new primary school on their doorstep for their children after education chiefs met yesterday.

Hampshire officials met with Fareham council leaders to discuss plans to build a one-form primary school after agreeing more places were needed locally.

They have looked at ten possible sites in Hampshire's newest town for the school with two locations emerging as front runners. The shortlist includes building a church school in the grounds of Whiteley's yet-to-be-built church or alternatively on a piece of land very close by in Whiteley Way.

The idea for a church school has already won the backing from the Rev Judy Henning, of Whiteley church, which currently meets in the community centre.

Now it is up to the Portsmouth Diocese to decide whether to apply to the Department for Education for money to build the church school. If they do, a decision will be made in March as to whether their application is successful.

If the diocese decides not to go ahead with the school the county council will apply for government money instead. They hope to build a temporary school in September with a view to building a permanent one in the next few years.

The meeting came following a U-turn by education bosses over whether more places were needed in Whiteley after a campaign by parents of children who failed to win places at oversubscribed Whiteley Primary School hit the headlines earlier this year.

Hampshire said then the increase in numbers of children applying for school places in Whiteley was a 'blip' but last month agreed that the problem was long term and a new school was needed.

Children who fail to win places are currently being bussed or driven the eight-mile round trip to schools in Fareham.

Latest figures predict that by 2005 there will be 150 boys and girls chasing reception class places.

With only 90 places available at Whiteley Primary School Education bosses are keen not to repeat the mistakes of the past.

They will only consider sites where a one-form entry school can be expanded to a two-form entry catering for 420 pupils in total.

Fareham council's leader Councillor Sean Woodward said: "We have won the argument. The number of children needing places is set to rise. This year's problems will pale into insignificance.

"Both the sites we are looking at are in the northern catchment area of Whiteley, complementing Whiteley Primary School in the south.

"In January it was terrible because we had so many parents whose children had nowhere to go. Within weeks of their appeals being turned down the county has admitted it was wrong.

"As far as the new primary school goes, it's all systems go."

The subject of a new secondary school was also mooted at the meeting as education bosses had previously said plans were not even on the drawing board.

But Cllr Woodward put pressure on the county representatives to re-visit the proposal with a view to creating a school to serve the Western Wards, Whiteley and Hedge End.

He said: "Frankly it is no quality of life for children to be bussed across Fareham in order to receive their education.