A LONGSTANDING bid to use a section of Mapledurham Playing Fields to build the Heights Free School was finally accepted by the town’s main authority tonight.

After more than two years of legal battles and outcries from residents amid concerns of the location, Reading Borough Council accepted the latest offer from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to use the playing fields for a "badly needed" school.

Community campaigners have battled to stop the bid for a school from being put through and instead pump funds into repairing the run-down pavilion on the playing fields.

However, Reading Borough Council’s Mapledurham Fields Trustee Subcommittee tonight accepted the bid from EFA, allowing the project to take a major step forward.

Robin Bentham, chair of Warren and District Residents Association (WADRA) told the packed-out meeting at the council’s civic offices : “This is their third attempt at a final offer. It is still weak and incomplete, showing no substantial benefit to the beneficiaries that outlay the loss of space.

“It would physically dominate the playing field, dwarfing the pavilion and nearby houses.”

Reverend Keith Robinson added: "As representative of residents of Mapledurham who are joint beneficiaries of the playing fields we have previously expressed the view that the location of the school, particularly on the most valuable flat area of the field is against the purpose of the charity.

“The area proposed will be an irretrievable loss of public open space and reduce the current enjoyment of the area.

“We are simply trying to protect the rights of the local community.”

Despite concerns against the bid, the council, acting as trustees of the playing fields, approved an offer for a 125 year lease of 1.231 acres of land on the playing fields. The fenced off site will sit less than eight meters away from Mapledurham Pavilion.

The decision was met with thunderous applause from people in favour of the proposal.

Sharon McCale, speaking on behalf of EFA, asserted: “We have taken on board your concerns and we have updated our offer.

“Our view is that the benefits outlay the loss of a relatively small part of the site.”

Karen Edwards, from The Heights pre-school, added praise to the decision.

She said: "I was excited about the vision of the heights and the opportunity to create a badly needed school within the community.

"Three of our four years are oversubscribed and we will welcome another 50 reception children in September 2017, taking our numbers to 220 at a temporary site designed for around 120.

"Our aim is to run the heights as a successful primary school wherever it is sited. We are doing the best we can but it's getting harder and harder and it's not fair that this uncertainty goes on further."

Initial plans for the school include 329m² reception play area, a 311m² social area and a 1163m² social area.

EFA will need to have a formal planning application accepted before it can begin building the new school.