EDUCATION chiefs today admitted they have still not found a way to solve the primary school places crisis in Whiteley.

After 14 months of looking they have been unable to secure a suitable site for a new primary school.

A plan to build a one-form entry school next to Whiteley's new church looks set to be ditched after the landowners USS indicated they could not afford to sell the site.

Graham Burnett, fund manager at USS said that there were other, possibly better options, available in the vicinity.

Hampshire County Council's unsuccessful search means that it's more than likely Sarisbury Infant School will be expanded so that yearly pupil numbers increase from 90 to 120. The government has granted the council permission to borrow £1.35m to fund extension work.

The council's strategic planning manager Bob Eardley said: "We are currently awaiting information from land owners in Whiteley to confirm whether there is a possibility of using land to create another primary school as well as investigating other options available to us." Once the council makes a decision the public will be consulted.

However, time is running out as the scramble for places at Whiteley Primary and surrounding schools is expected to be repeated again in September with both schools heavily subscribed.

Last year 34 boys and girls were refused places at Whiteley Primary and this year there was a marked increase in the first choice applications to Sarisbury Infants.

Fareham Council leader Sean Woodward said:

"It's very frustrating for the people I represent who have very young children and are wondering what they are going to do with them in September.

"Landowners the Universities Superannuition Scheme have left us dangling like this over what they will or will not do.

"They have left a big question mark over everyone's future.

"Now the county council should take the idea as a dead duck and accept it is not going to happen and that means making provision for the children of Whiteley by extending Sarisbury Infants."