THE Education Funding Agency (EFA) has offered £1.36m to Reading Borough Council in its bid to build a free school on Mapledurham Playing Fields.

After more than two years of legal battles and outcries from residents the formal proposals for a permanent site for the Heights Primary School are set to go before councillors.

In papers published tonight it was revealed that a 1.231 acre section in the north west corner of the park is being formally sought for purchase.

As trustees of the charity that holds the land, the council has been given two options by officers - to consider the deal in more detail, or refuse it outright.

The Mapledurham Playing Fields Action Group has previously said it would challenge any sale of the land - which is held in a charitable trust by the council for "leisure use only".

The Heights Free School subcommittee will meet on July 12 to make its decision.

In the papers it also adds the EFA's request to "use the playing fields for sport related activities, and the request that this be free of charge," adding that facilities at the school be made available for the community.

A separate application for part of the land to be designated as an asset of community value, submitted by the Warren and District Residents Association, has already been approved.