Their prospective parliamentary candidate, Claire Kelley, is supporting moves to provide a new secondary school to serve the north of Harrogate, claiming the existing problems would only be exacerbated if new developments were given the green light.

Mrs Kelley said: "It is quite ridiculous to plan for nearly 700 new homes to the north west of Harrogate without new secondary education provision.

"We already have a situation where a large proportion of the school age population lives on the north side of Harrogate but has to travel across town to attend a secondary school, as they are all located on the south side.

"Not only is this unsustainable in terms of traffic congestion and pollution but many parents are having difficulty finding up to £2 per day per child for the bus fares.

"We already need a secondary school in this area; a need that will become even more acute if the new housing goes ahead."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council Children and Young People's Service said the Local Development Plans would likely have a greater impact on primary school places than at secondary schools.

The council said additional places may be needed at Saltergate and Western Primary schools if a large development takes place in the north west, with the possibility of an entire new primary school being needed in west Harrogate.

More places may also be needed at Beckwithshaw Primary School and Rossett Acre Primary School if a development goes ahead in the south or south west of the town, with more room needing to be found at St Peter's CE School if plans for 100 houses goes ahead at Station Parade.

North Yorkshire County Council said developments in Knaresborough are unlikely to have a significant impact on schooling, although a development at Manse Farm in Knaresborough may result in extra primary schools being needed.

Council bosses have said that the sites put forward are unlikely to have significant impact at secondary level in Harrogate or Knaresborough.

More places would be needed at Hookstone Chase Primary School for any smaller developments at Forest Lane or at land south east of the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Extra room would also likely be needed at Rossett Acre, Western and St Peter's CE Primary Schools, with Meadowside Primary School and King James Secondary School in Knaresborough also lacking enough places to meet the expected demand should the LDF development go ahead.

County council officials said appropriate provision will also need to be made for other services for children, young people and their families, such as children's centres, youth and leisure facilities, and children's social care provision.