A BASINGSTOKE secondary school will close its doors come September this year. 

At today's decision day meeting, Hampshire County Council (HCC) executive member for education, cllr Peter Edgar, rubber stamped the decision to amalgamate Fort Hill Community School with Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College (CBEC). 

The decision comes despite parents and ward councillors campaigning to keep the Kenilworth Road school open. 

Cllr Edgar told The Gazette the decision was based on the lack of pupils who had applied to join the school in the upcoming academic year. 

He said: "This has by no means been an easy decision, but I felt I had to take immediate action to give the best possible learning experience to the pupils." 

Frustrated parents called the decision "short sighted" and said they will continue to fight to save the school. 

Winklebury ward councillor, cllr Angie Freeman said: "We will do all we can to appeal this. 

"From what has been said in the report it just feels like we are being lied to." 

Fort Hill Community Schoolhas been under threat of closure since HCC announced proposals to merge it with CBEC in January.

At the last full Ofsted inspection in February 2015 the school had 563 pupils and was rated “requires improvement”.

See this week's Gazette for the full report.