PORTISHEAD parents are being asked if they still want a free school in the town.

Members of the Village Quarter Parents Group (VQPG) have been considering their options since their application to open a new school at Port Marine was turned down.

The group campaigned for the opening of a new school, free from restrictions of North Somerset Council, to help meet the shortfall of school places in Portishead. The application was successful in the first round of the Government selection process but was rejected by the Department for Education (DfE) in the final round in May.

North Somerset Council has since gained planning permission to expand St Peter’s Primary School in Halletts Way.

The VQPG has now launched an online survey to find out if residents want them to continue their campaign.

A group spokesman said: “We are keen to ensure we represent what the community wants us to do next over school places in Portishead. North Somerset Council is currently reviewing its projection figures and it appears Portishead may still have a shortfall of places in September 2014, even with the expansion of St Peter’s.”

The group has now received feedback from the DfE on their application, which they say will help if a new application is made.

The group is looking at three options and wants members of the public to have a say in what happens next.

The group says it can leave the school place issue to North Somerset Council and the existing local schools to manage, it can apply for a free school in September 2013 aiming to open the Village Quarter school in September 2014, or it can apply in January 2014 aiming to open a school in September 2015.

The survey is available online until August 22.