People in Whiteley are being given a final chance to say whether part of their recreation ground should be used as the site for a new primary school.

Residents now have until the end of the month to decide whether they want part of the Meadowside Recreation Ground sold by Winchester City Council to Hampshire County Council so it can build a new one-form entry primary school on the site.

It comes after months of wrangling between the county council, city council and Whiteley Parish Council with both the city and parish arguing that building on the site would significantly decrease the size of the playing fields. They have suggested that a five-acre plot of disused farmland just north of the community be used instead.

However, the county council claims that no playing fields will be lost because they will be moved 40 metres to the west and instead built on meadowland, which at present is used by dog walkers and nature lovers.

The final consultation is getting under way after the Liberal Democrats lost control of the city council to the Conservatives at last month's local government elections.

Whereas the Lib Dems were fighting the Meadowside scheme, the Conservatives are more sympathetic to it. When completed, the new school will have space for 210 children and relieve some of the pressure on the oversubscribed Whiteley Primary School.

A spokesman for Winchester City Council said: "The Cabinet agreed in principle last week to consider releasing the land but asked that local residents be consulted on the proposal.

"Any representations made will be taken into account by the council's Cabinet before any final decision is made on whether to release the land."

A plan of the site is available on the city council's website and any comments or objections should either be posted to the council's secretary or e-mailed to css@winchester.gov.uk.