HAMPSHIRE’S education chiefs are pumping an extra £4million into providing 210 extra primary school places in the Romsey area.

This comes on top of cash already used on building new facilities at schools in Cupernham and is in response to a growing demand for more places in the area – particularly at North Baddesley and Romsey.

Officials estimate that by 2018 a total of 11,000 new primary school places will be needed.

Next Wednesday county cabinet spokesman for children’s services Keith Mans is expected to give the green light to numerous education projects including funding for extra school spaces in the Romsey and North Baddesley catchment area where there are shortages.

North Baddesley’s county councillor, Alan Dowden has welcomed the news.

Mr Dowden said: “I’ve been harping on about the shortage of school places for about four years. I wanted a review of school places not only in North Baddesley and Romsey but Chandler’s Ford because it has reached crisis point.

“However, it is better late than never that more school places are being provided. They have at least recognised that there is clearly a problem. But why did they let it get to this stage? How can you build more houses when there are not enough school places?”

Hampshire says the cash is being made available because of a rise in birth rates, more housing developments and more people moving into the county.

North Baddesley Junior School headteacher Susan Smith said: “We are full but we don’t have a long waiting list at the moment. No one is being turned away. It might be an issue in the future as more houses are built, probably seven or eight years down the line, but I trust the county council to manage it for us.”

Education bosses say that nearly 90 per cent of children in Hampshire were able to go to their first choice school and a further 97 per cent were given a place in the first three choices on offer.

Mr Mans is also expected to approve a £1.7 million scheme for a four classroom expansion at Nursling Primary School. This project is likely to start this autumn and be completed in 2016.

Education officials say the expansion is needed to cater for new housing in the area.

A £14,000 scheme to improve facilities in a hygiene room at Rownhams Primary School is also expected to rubber stamped by Mr Mans.