PLANS to turn part of a popular park into a school playing field could be finalised by the end of next month.

School and council bosses are to meet within weeks to decide the future of the playing field in Riverside Park in Southampton.

It comes after more than 100 people crammed into Bitterne Park Social Club to discuss Bitterne Park Primary School’s proposal to lease a field in the park for 25 years.

The field, which is the size of two football pitches, is just behind the school which is planning to build an 8ft perimeter fence, re-route a public footpath and limit public access to it.

It is hoped that another meeting with community and school representatives will put the finishing touches to the proposal.

The earlier meeting saw residents and the Friends of Riverside Park raise concerns about access to the land, as it will then be open to the public between 3.30pm and 6pm, but after and before those times it will be locked.

Should people want to use it they would have to book in by calling the school.

Bitterne Park councillor Peter Baillie said: “Anything to do with the park does create emotion.

There has been a lot, and the school plans were not as clearly sent out to the public as they could have been.

“The meeting was a really good, helpful meeting to fully understand what as being proposed and the realisation of both sides that for the good of the children there needs to be some compromises.”

The next meeting will take place behind closed doors in mid-November. After that it is expected that there will be a planning application submitted to Southampton City Council.