THE long-awaited decision on controversial plans to extend a Petersfield school will be made next week.

ChurcherÕs Junior school wants to extend its Moreton House site in The Spain but they have met fierce opposition from local residents.

And planning officers at EHDC want councillors to reject the plans.

The school was dealt a further blow in December when Petersfield Town Council made a dramatic U-turn and objected to the proposals.

The town council had previously voiced no objection to the plans that include new classrooms and a bridge over the Southern Stream at the rear of the site.

But when amended plans were discussed they raised strong objections in the light of growing public opposition.

The site lies in the Òhistoric coreÓ of Petersfield and within a conservation area.

District planners are not happy with the design and appearance of the proposed new building, and have also raised fears about flooding and increased traffic.

Town councillors voiced traffic concerns last month when they objected to amended plans for the site.

Originally, the town council had raised no objection.

Chairmen of the townÕs planning committee said: ÒWhen we made our original comments there were 150 letters in support of the plan and none objecting. Now we have heard that nearby residents were only made aware of the plan two days after we had met.Ó

ChurcherÕs amended the plans after consultations were made on the site visit in November.

The planned new hall has now been deleted from plans and the floor level of new classrooms has been raised with areas below pencilled in to deal with possible flood waters.The design has also been altered to a more classical appearance.

The decision was due to be made in November but has already been deferred twice, to allow councillors to make a site visit and for the new plans to be submitted.

Now January 9 could mark the end to a long search for a new home for the school.

The search began for a new site five years ago. Plans to build a new junior school at Penns Place were thrown out in 1999 by EHDC.

Focus then turned to the collegeÕs existing campus at Ramshill and permission was finally granted on the site in March 2001 after a 15-month battle.

But the plans were shelved by governors later that year because of Òunworkable and unacceptableÓ conditions placed on the application.

The school bought the Moreton House in 2002 and applications were made to extend the site.