SCHOOL trust members have hit back at opposition to a new school in Caversham after pledging significant investment into 'run-down' facilities.

The Heights Primary School is at the centre of controversial plans to relocate from their temporary home on Gosbrook Road to Mapledurham Playing Fields.

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) will invest £1.36m to rejuvenate leisure facilities in exchange for five per cent of land, but residents continue to raise concerns over the loss of green space.

Action groups formed legal battles following overwhelming support for Mapledurham to house the 'outstanding' school, but were forced to pay the council's costs after their case collapsed.

The Football Association and Sport England are two major governing bodies currently against the Mapledurham project.

Matt Gale, Trust member for the Heights, believes the development should be viewed as a 'win win' situation for the community due to the lack of school spaces and dire need for investment in leisure.

He said: "When we started at our temporary home, we were told 50 children would have been spread throughout south Reading if we were not set up.

"It can be a win win situation. We can provide a much-needed school, which would be at the heart of the community and you also get substantial investment for the playing fields.

Reading Chronicle:

"The pavilion on the grounds has been closed for well over a year because it is structurally unstable and needs a lot of money thrown at it."

Five initial sites were proposed for the Heights and 70 per cent of the responses identified Mapledurham as the best option.

Mr Gale added: "The temporary site has made it a huge challenge because of the lack of space. In September we will be starting our fourth year.

"The school has had to be creative. We had to convert an old broom cupboard into a music room just to make the most of space.

"At present, we will run out space on the site in 2018."

Opposition groups say a loss of green space and a lack of a safe point of crossing are just some of the reasons that the school should not be built at the site. 

They also say that the fields were supposed to be for the benefit of the community of Mapledurham and Reading and a school does not adhere to the specifics outlined. 

A consultation seeking the views of all parties ends on September 25.