A MAJOR £3.3million scheme to improve a busy junction near Bournemouth Airport has been put on hold.

Dorset County Council and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership confirmed work at Chapel Gate has been postponed to allow the plans to be developed further.

The project was part of Dorset LEP’s £40million bid to improve the roads around Bournemouth Airport.

Work on Chapel Gate was due to start in September and continue for seven months.

The roundabout was due to be replaced with traffic lights, making it a signalised junction.

Toucan crossings were also due to be installed, with a new lane added on the southern and western carriageways to ‘improve capacity.’

A spokesperson for Dorset County Council said: “The current Chapel Gate scheme is on hold.

“Dorset County Council is working with the Dorset LEP on further assessment work to improve the junctions along the B3073 to ensure the most cost effective delivery of the transport schemes within the BIG programme.”

Gordon Page, chairman of Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership confirmed the scheme had gone back to the drawing board for improvements.

LEP director, Lorna Carter said they wanted to look at the B3073 in its entirety, from Longham mini roundabouts to Blackwater.

“It’s really just a sense check before we fully commit to a scheme”, she said.

“The work on the A338 has been fantastic and we want time to take a proper look at what’s next.

“We’re trying to be responsive and see what the public really want.”

She said the project had not been abolished and could be used once the reassessment had been completed.

“Over the next couple of months it will be much clearer”, she added.

“We’re looking at whether there is a different order we can do things in and if it would be better to do something different.”

When the scheme was announced in February, engineers said the signalisation of the junction would help to improve the flow of traffic particularly from the Aviation Business Park, which is integral to the LEP’s future plans.

A proposal to move Hurn roundabout is due to go before the county council’s regulatory committee in June.