Two plans to deliver a major expansion of primary school places are each set to fail, forcing councillors to thrash out a new bid to expand Wimbledon Park Primary School.

After a full consultation of schools, parents and residents, Labour-run Merton Council’s preferred “Option A” – to expand seven existing schools – was voted down by governors of Bishop Gilpin Primary School in Wimbledon, who did not want their school to take another 30 pupils a year.

But the Conservative opposition’s alternative – building a new school in Wimbledon’s Gap Road – is also set to fail after it was revealed the council could not agree a deal to buy the proposed site from its current landowner.

Councillor Peter Walker, cabinet member for education, who spearheaded the plans to create 210 extra school places in Merton, said Bishop Gilpin school had “missed a golden opportunity”.

Coun Walker said: “They bowed to local pressure and I am not sure the governors’ views represented the majority of residents.

“Here’s the danger – if the opposition we faced at Bishop Gilpin is repeated with the conversion of South Wimbledon Community Centre and the expansion of Dundonald School, only St Mary’s in Wimbledon will be expanding.

“Going forward, I hope we are going to have a united council on this issue.”

Coun Walker was due to meet his Conservative counterpart, Councillor Richard Hilton, and Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, last night to discuss the revised plan.

He will then meet governors of Wimbledon Park Primary tonight in a bid to gain their support for 30 extra school places, some of which are likely to be taken up by children from Wandsworth.

Coun Hilton said: “To me this shows their policy has become a complete shambles.

“Wimbledon Park school was specifically ruled out by Peter Walker during each of the consultation meetings.

“He said he didn’t want to be using Merton money to pay for the education of Wandsworth students, but that is exactly what will happen now.”

Coun Hilton would not confirm if the Conservative group would support the revised plan to expand Wimbledon Park Primary instead of Bishop Gilpin School.