The run-down sports pitch in Rosehill should remain empty for another year just in case the council needs to build a second free-school according to Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake.

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This week Sutton Common Rovers football team said it had re-entered negotiations with the council for the site to become its home ground if a school is not going to be built.

The site has been the centre of the boroughs free-school controversy after ruling Liberal Democrats said Sutton Council would block any attempt to build a desperately-needed secondary school on the site, in favour of its own, £8m, plot at Sutton Hospital in Belmont in September.

The Department for Education and free school company Greenshaw Learning Trust both rejected the latter site for being too small.

But Mr Brake said it is possible that by 2018 the borough might need another secondary school, so the council should hold onto the site.

He added: "Until there is clarity on what the demand is it should be left open for a school.

"It might only be 12 months until the council can have a reasonable view on whether they need a new school by 2018."

On whether leaving the site untouched for a year would risk losing Greenshaw’s interest in building a free-school in Sutton he said: "I can’t second guess what their plans are but if they are interested in building a secondary school in Sutton, then sites don’t come around every other month."

In a previous statement council leader Ruth Dombey defended the council’s decision to block a secondary school being built on the site saying: "The council is confident that the development of a new secondary school on the Sutton Hospital site will provide the school places needed initially.

"If an additional secondary school is required in the longer term then the council will have to consider all available sites."

It is predicted Sutton will need at least one new school by 2017 to cope with demand for secondary places.