A FRESH row has broken out over a doomed Southampton school just days after its fate was sealed by civic chiefs.

City Labour MP John Denham has come under attack after writing to parents of Northam Primary School, which is due to close next August in a bid to curb surplus school places.

In his letter, he said it was important for the city council to invest resources in the Northam estate to secure the best possible provision for children.

He said: "There will be varying ideas about what should be done but every possible step should be taken that will help to ensure that Northam children succeed at school."

Mr Denham said the ruling Labour group's decision to close the school was "probably inevitable" after education Secretary David Blunkett knocked back a proposal which would have retained the infants section.

He added: "I believe that the city council should examine the provision for pre-school children - supporting after-school activities and similar measures."

His comments drew criticism from the council's Tory education spokesman John Hannides, who insisted the 75-pupil school could have been viable given the political will.

He said: "His intervention is far too late. The damage has been done. The comforting words he may be trying to portray will make no material difference to the concerns of the parents themselves."

School governors' chairman Dick Partridge said the closure plan would create huge practical difficulties for parents faced with transferring children to alternative schools such as St Mary's Primary.

He said: "There are a lot of parents with more than one child who will be very unhappy, particularly if they cannot get them into the same school. In theory they have a choice but there is a very low percentage of car ownership in Northam."

Part of the school site will be devoted to nursery provision, but council officers are to consult community groups over uses for the remainder.

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