A NEW Hereford University campus could be created in Ledbury.

It's early days for the emerging Hereford University, which will open its doors this September for its first students at the former Robert Owen Academy in Hereford.

But the idea of a second campus in Ledbury is still on the table as a possible future development.

Debbie Mackay, head of marketing for the New Model in Technology and Engineering (NMite) group, which is responsible for setting up the university, said of the idea of a supporting campus in Ledbury: "It's not a definite no. We are not ruling it out"

She said she would "absolutely" welcome an approach about this from Ledbury Town Council.

Town councillors, putting together a so-called "vision statement" two years ago for Ledbury's neighbourhood plan, identified a university campus in Ledbury as a goal.

The report said: "Ledbury will be a willing partner in the development of higher education facilities in Herefordshire and will look to develop a research and development facility and, if plans for Hereford University go ahead, a campus."

With Hereford University very much happening, town and county councillor Liz Harvey said this week she regretted that the existing neighbourhood plan contained "no policies which would assist with the realisation of more high paid, high value jobs or with the creation of training or learning portals linked to the university project".

But Cllr Harvey added: "I have continued to maintain close links with the team leading the NMiTE project and recently met with its new Chief Executive – professor Professor Elena Rodriguez-Falcon – to discuss the university team’s latest plans.

"I sincerely hope that the NMiTE project is the success most people want it to be. I think that Ledbury is perfectly placed – between Hereford and Malvern – to be a site for tech company growth and I will continue to work positively with like-minded people to realise the town’s potential for growth in technology driven businesses and in jobs for the creative economy, a perfect match for the new model in teaching promoted by NMiTE."

Concerning where businesses with links to the new university might be located, Cllr Harvey said: "The viaduct site has three hectares of employment land associated with the mixed employment/housing development – in close proximity to the station – which could provide an attractive location for technology driven businesses to locate and would be within easy travel access for NMiTE students based in the city."

Cllr Harvey added: "The John Masefield High School is an academy and master of its own future. I know that some high schools in the county have explored whether their sites can become the location of extended study and training portals into the university for adult learning and employers out of school hours."

The idea of Ledbury as an extension of Hereford University has generated widespread support on social media this week.

Posting on the Voice of Ledbury Facebook site, Shan Stevens said: "It would be an excellent addition to the community. Also it would mean less travelling for local students."

Cathy Edwards added: "A Ledbury campus would be fantastic, however I do feel that Ledbury needs more of a further education college."

Sara Manns Pedlingham said: "It would be great but the buses need to be sorted out and so does the train station".

Christine Allen added: "The train station will definitely need improvement with an entrance to the far platform. It is terrible that there is no disabled access."