A Hampshire MP has told Hampshire County Council in the “strongest possible terms” that she remains opposed to the proposed closure of Stubbington Study Centre.

Dame Caroline Dinenage – Conservative MP for Gosport – has made a last-ditch attempt to prevent the closure of the children’s study centre in Stubbington, in a letter written to leader of the county council, Cllr Nick Adams-King and executive lead member for children’s services, Cllr Roz Chadd.

It comes after a march on Saturday, February 8, in Lee-on-Solent that saw hundreds turn out to oppose the council’s proposals to convert the site – that opened in 1935 – into a specialist secure welfare children’s home.

A ‘Save Stubbington Study Centre’ petition has surpassed 17,500 signatures online.

The Gosport MP has written to Hampshire County Council for a third time in almost as many weeks in an effort to make the council reverse their plans.

Dame Caroline Dinenage (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Hundreds of protestors march to save 'irreplaceable' study centre

In a letter to the council, Dame Caroline Dinenage said: “I must reiterate in the strongest possible terms that I remain opposed to the proposed closure of Stubbington Study Centre, which will negatively impact thousands of children by removing a unique local educational offer.

“That view is one that is shared by the public, as has been demonstrated by the large number of individual communications I have received from constituents, in addition to the well-attended march on Saturday, February 8, and the petition to save the study centre reaching over 17,000 signatories.

“In lieu of the strength of feeling locally I strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal.”

Hundreds marched at Lee-on-Solent on Saturday, February 8, in protest at the council's plans (Image: Newsquest) A consultation on the proposed plans to convert the study centre into a specialist welfare children’s home ended on Monday, February 10.

Speaking on the night the consultation closed, Caroline said: “It has been so good to see local people come together in support of Stubbington Study Centre, and it has been lovely to hear about all the experiences connected to the site.

“I hope that when it comes to assessing the results of the consultation, the strength of feeling that these proposals do not have the support of local people shines through.

“I urge the council to listen to those concerns and change direction on their plans to deprive future generations of this wonderful local site.”