NEW proposals to build a free school on Mapledurham Playing Fields were revealed to the public today.

After more than two years of legal battles and outcries from residents the first round of formal plans did not show where the school would go.

However, the Education Funding Agency has now returned with a revised plan, showing exact location of The Heights Primary School.

The EFA submitted its plans alongside a £1.36m offering to Reading Borough Council's Mapledurham Playing Fields Sub-Committee, which will now consider whether to accept the bid.

In papers published today it was revealed the EFA is seeking 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.

A report prepared for councillors reads: "The EFA has confirmed that the extent of the fenced area for the school is 1.231 acres. The previous requirement for the flexibility to build the school within a larger 2.7 acre site has been removed.

"The school would use the existing access way to service the site from Upper Woodcote Road and that it will improve the condition of the access to at least "highways grade".

"The school will contribute to the cost of maintaining the access."

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".

As trustees of the site, Reading Borough Council must now decide whether or not to accept the proposals put forward by the EFA.

Bosses at EFA have said that if the plans are accepted, the school hall and the 726m² MUGA, used for PE classes, will be available for the community out of term-time.

The proposals also show a 329m² reception play area, a 311m² social area and a 1163m² social area.

The report will be considered at a council meeting on December 20.

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More to follow.