SCHOOLS in Fareham could be swamped by an influx of new residents, according to the council leader.

Councillor Sean Woodward says current education provision will be inadequate if new school places are not provided for families pouring into the area.

He said there were already problems in Fareham as a result of nearly 3,000 recently-built homes in the borough.

The council's recent decision to grant planning permission for 241 new homes in Locks Heath will only exacerbate the problem, he said.

"It is unacceptable to have children from the western wards travelling to Swanmore, Havant and Henry Cort schools," said Mr Woodward.

"I know residents in Sarisbury who are actually selling their homes and moving because they cannot get their children into a local school.

"It is a serious problem. That is why we are protesting at the number of homes we are being asked to build."

Hampshire education's strategic plan-ning manager, Bob Eardley, insisted ample school places would be provided, but said there were no plans for a new school.

He said: "Once Fareham decide how many places there will be, we will take the necessary steps to make sure there are enough places.

"In the western wards of Fareham there is a lot of growth. We will provide the places that are needed.

"We have 300 new places over the next couple of years. At this stage we do not know where they are going.

"People cannot always end up going to the school they want."

Mr Woodward plans to write to Hamp-shire education chiefs. He will argue the solution is to build a new school between Whitely, Burridge and Hedge End.

He said: "There are concerns that the county council is adding to existing schools when we need one extra school.

"Over the next five to ten years there are going to be enough new developments for 800 school places. We need to consolidate the places into a new school."