PRIMARY school and early years provision in the south-west of Basingstoke will be significantly improved because of the decision not to rebuild Beech Down Primary School, says Hampshire education chief Don Allen.

Reacting to comments made by borough council leader Brian Gurden that using money from selling the site is "theft", Cllr Allen (pictured) said: "I think that's the most biased load of rubbish I've heard from any councillor so far.

"It's clearly a reinvestment of a very substantial amount of money in improving pre-school and primary education in that area of Basingstoke.

"It will address the fundamental problem of an imbalance of school places in that area. It's a problem which, if we had rebuilt Beech Down, we would have found impossible to resolve."

Unsurprised by the public outcry over his controversial axing of Beech Down Primary, Cllr Allen said: "I was expecting a fairly substantial reaction to it. I'm very confident about the decision I've made and I believe it's a good decision for that area.

"I recognise the pain and worry and major sense of disappointment parents will feel."

He added: "The decision will not be changed. People can shout as much as they like and be as abusive as they like. At the end of the day they need to understand it will not make a single difference to the process."

Responding to the question of whether Beech Down's future would have been debated had there not been a fire, Cllr Allen said: "Around now or in the next 12 months we would have started a review of how to provide primary education in that area of Basingstoke."

Happy for the decision to be called in by a county scrutiny committee, he said: "I'm convinced anyone who looks at it logically will see it is, in fact, a good decision."

Although Cllr Allen has said he will not change his decision, he explained there would be a two-month period for people to lodge objections when statutory notices go up soon.

Any objections would then be put before the schools organisation committee, an independent committee comprising representatives from five groups - the Local Education Authority, school governors, Church of England, Catholic Diocese and the Learning Skills Council - who each have one vote.

If the committee unanimously supports the original proposal, the objections are not upheld. But if it is a split vote or the proposal is rejected, the matter would be referred to the Education Secretary who would appoint an adjudicator.