TOWN councillors believe that Evesham will struggle to cope with the number of new homes proposed for construction over the next 20 years.

Members of the town council debated the possible impact on the town through the South Worcestershire Development Plan at a meeting on Monday. They believe the town’s resources and services are stretched already and to add more than 800 new homes would be a recipe for disaster.

Councillor John Smith said the numbers for Evesham were ‘way over the top’. He added: “I don’t know how Evesham is going to support this number of homes. I have concerns about infrastructure, traffic, doctors’ surgeries and so on.

“Evesham has already seen a huge amount of development over the past 20 years – I don’t think any other town in Worcestershire has seen more.

In Hampton, for example, there will be 1,000 extra cars coming out into Cheltenham Road, which is already busy.”

Coun John Payne shared similar views and said the plans seemed to be playing ‘musical chairs’ with the town.

Sites for housing include Pershore Road, Hampton, the nursery at Bewdley Lane and the former Evesham Leisure Centre. Employment land is planned at Vale Park and Kings Road.

Major worries for Coun Frances Smith were schooling, the hospital and the cemetery. “St Andrews School will not cope with these numbers and nor will the hospital.

The cemetery will soon be overloaded and as yet there is no plan for a new site,” she said.

Coun Mark Goodge spoke of the need for a second entrance into Vale Park. “There is still only one way to get in and that is off the bypass roundabout, which is already gridlocked.”

Town clerk Frank Green will submit an official council response as part of the consultation into the plans.