A CHINEHAM school could expand if Hampshire County Council gives the green light to the scheme.

Hampshire County Council has submitted a planning application on behalf of Great Binfields Primary School, in Binfields Farm Lane, Chineham, for permission to extend the play areas at the school and to increase the number of car parking spaces from 16 to 30.

In addition, two new teaching spaces are proposed which will bring the number of classrooms to 14. This will mean that the school will become a two-form entry school and will be able to double the number of pupils it can accept from 210 to 420.

Headteacher Jules Rogers told The Gazette: “We are delighted at the school that we have submitted an application for an extension and the new facilities are really going to enhance the children’s learning.”

However, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has objected to the plans because the proposed car park and associated lighting and drainage “cannot be constructed without causing harm to existing trees which make a positive contribution towards the character and appearance of the locality”.

Chineham Parish Council also raised concerns about the scheme.

In a letter sent to the county council, the parish council’s clerk Sally Jackson, said: “Chineham Parish Council has no objection to the design of the application but we have grave concerns about the traffic and the access to the school and the severe impact that this will have on local residents.

“We would welcome the formalisation of the parking arrangements between the school and the Chineham Shopping Centre. We would suggest that consideration be given to some publicly owned land being used for a drop-off zone.”

A decision on the application is expected to be made by Thursday, June 11.