NEWS that Bovis has withdrawn its planning appeal for 185 new homes to the south of Ledbury bypass has re-opened debate that the town's infrastructure, especially local schools, will not be able to cope with continued expansion in any case.

Bovis says it still has its eye on the site, which is adjacent to Barratt's Hawk Rise development, currently being built.

But Ledbury residents, posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, fear the impact that big new housing estates will have on the local infrastructure, and on school places in particular.

Herefordshire Council's Core Strategy, a planning blueprint for the next two decades, makes no provision for any new schools in Ledbury, despite the fact that up to 2,000 new homes could be built in Ledbury, during that time frame.

And some local residents say the pinch on school places is already being felt.

Justine Clayton said: "We need new schools and doctors before more housing; this is because schools are already overflowing in Ledbury, to the point some don't get placements.

"We just need another primary school at least."

An early Core Strategy plan for the north of the viaduct site, where Bloor hopes to build 625 new homes, did make provision for an extra primary school; but this was removed at a later stage.

But even now, Ledbury Primary School places can be hard to secure.

Local mum Claire Davies said: "We live less than a mile from Ledbury Primary School and we didn't get a place for our son. It certainly was not out of choice that we now have to drive the five miles to Ashperton!"

Increasingly, outlying primary schools are taking the strain.

Ann Beard said: "My grandson had to go to Bromsberrow Primary; there was no room at Ledbury, and he lives in town."

Liam Meredith added: "Well, the places at these schools need to be there before or while the houses are being built, surely?"

And Aleksandra Zalewska said: "It is really hard to imagine how Ledbury Primary School can cope with any more children."

Government figures show there were 455 pupils recorded for Ledbury Primary in 2016/2017, and there were 842 students recorded for the John Masefield High School.

An expansion of the town by 2,000 new homes could potentially bring 4,000 more children to Ledbury.