A CRUNCH meeting that could seal the fate of Beech Down Primary School is set to take place on Friday.

The Hampshire School Organisation Committee, which was set up three years ago and is made up of five separate groups, will meet to consider education chief Don Allen's controversial decision to shut the arson-hit school in 2004.

And sitting on the committee will be Cllr Allen himself, who will be among those representing the county council.

The independent committee will listen to views from all sides on the issue before being asked to vote on whether or not to uphold his closure decision.

If each group unanimously backs Cllr Allen's decision, then any objections will not be upheld. If one or more of the groups objects to the closure, the matter has to be referred to Education Secretary Estelle Morris, who will appoint an adjudicator to make the final decision.

Cllr Allen is one of seven members on the Hampshire County Council group who will give their view on his decision.

The other groups include the Church of England, Learning and Skills Council, school governors and the Roman Catholic Church.

Committee chairman Richard Lindley said the members had changed very little since the committee was formed.

Mr Lindley, director of education for the Winchester diocese, added: "Everybody there has got a sectional interest in what happens."

Following the representations, which will be made at the beginning of the meeting, each group goes off to separate rooms for a private discussion to reach an agreement either for or against the decision.

Each group can opt to abstain, or if they cannot reach an agreement, their vote is classed as an abstention.

The meeting starts at 10.15am and will be held in the Conference Room, Ashburton Court, The Castle, Winchester. It is open to the public.