THE town's rapid planned expansion, with more than 1,800 new homes on the books, is in danger of turning the market town in a dormitory settlement for Birmingham, Worcester and Gloucester, according to the Ledbury and District Civic Society.

And fears are growing that the town's infrastructure will not be able to cope, with up to a 50 per cent increase in the population on the cards, and another 2,500 cars on the road, if all the projected homes are built.

The society is preparing what it calls a detailed technical objection to the latest outline planning applications for 435 homes off the Dymock Road, by Gladman and 185 new homes off the Leadon Way bypass, by Bovis.

The society's chairman Chris Johnson has sent letters to all members, outlining his fears, over what he calls "this unplanned overdevelopment".

He said of Ledbury's likely new total housing total: "Over 1,000 of these homes are extra to Herefordshire Core Strategy allocation of 800 new homes for Ledbury."

And he does not believe that the rapid expansion of Ledbury will lead to a rapid expansion of employment opportunities.

Mr Johnson said: "There is a lack of provision for employment locally. Already Ledbury has the highest proportion - 40 per cent, in Herefordshire of the working population who travel more than 10km to work.

"With no employment opportunities being developed, the new housing risks making Ledbury a dormitory settlement for Birmingham, Worcester and Gloucester."

His letter states: "The Civic Society trustees believe it is important that as many people as possible are fully aware of what is happening. It will have significant consequences for the future of Ledbury. The Civic Society will be objecting to these two most recent applications, as it did to the 321 houses now to be built by Barrett."

But Gladman, in its covering letter for the outline planning application, states that its proposed 435 homes could lead to 500 more people being "economically active in employment" and generate an extra £10m a year within the local economy.

And Bovis, in its covering documents, states that only seven local residents submitted comments about the relative lack of employment opportunities in Ledbury, during a consultation exercise last summer.

Other new homes likely to be built in Ledbury include 100 new homes on the former cricket pitch site; 625 new homes to the north of the viaduct, by Bloor, and a further 175 homes mentioned in Herefordshire Council's Core Strategy document for infill and small town centre sites.

Concerning the infrastructure, Civic Society trustees fear pressures on local traffic flow, parking, school and doctors, sewage and water supplies.

Some local residents fear the impact on the town's amenities and surrounding countryside.

Anne Brown, aged 80 said: "Ledbury will be completely spoilt. The builders are taking only the best land to build on. The approaches to Ledbury are being completely spoilt. It's all so sad, and in 20 and 30 years we'll be really sorry."

Civic Society members, and the wider community, are being urged to make their views known, whatever they are, concerning both the new Gladman proposal (P174495) before the January 25 deadline, and on the Bovis proposal (P174745), before the February 1 deadline.

Comments can be made on the Herefordshire Council website - www.herefordshire.gov.uk

Mr Johnson said: "Whatever your views, this is important for the future of Ledbury."