CAMPAIGNERS protested against the controversial A338-Wessex Fields plan outside the stakeholders’ meeting.

Several residents held the demonstration outside the meeting after feeling they had been "excluded" from it.

People from Townsend and Holdenhurst Village were stood on Deansleigh Road opposite the Royal Bournemouth Hospital with signs and placards.

They battled through the rainy conditions to protest against the plan and that they were not invited to Bournemouth Borough Council’s meeting, which was being held at the Village Hotel.

Friends of Riverside Co-ordinator Conor O’Luby walked into the meeting despite not being invited. He felt it was "ludicrous" that residents were not welcome but he was allowed to stay to hear the presentations and discussion.

Mr O'Luby said that he found the meeting "very interesting" and explained he was even allowed to ask questions about the scheme he campaigns against.

Mr O'Luby believes the plan can be scuppered by a public inquiry, which would likely need to be called by Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood. Mr O'Luby says he will now work to coordinate a strong residential opposition to the scheme to show Mr Ellwood that a public inquiry is necessary.

He added: "He (Mr Ellwood) needs to see that there is large scale opposition, that's what we are working with and we are building our campaign to try and show that."

Some residents fear the controversial planning proposals to build a flyover and junction in the area awill destroy widely used public green space, increase traffic congestion and noise and air pollution.

Coordinator of East Dorset Friends of the Earth, Angela Pooley, was at the protest. She said she was protesting against the scheme itself, "because of the principle of more roads in a time when we should be looking towards sustainable transport".

She said: "These plans are in contravention of the Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset local transport plan which categorically states there should be a move away from building roads, encouraging sustainable travel."

Holdenhurst Village resident Janice Seare was also protesting. She said: "Holdenhurst Village is the mother of Bournemouth, isn't that worth preserving? It is mentioned in the doomsday book!"

In response to the protest, Ian Kalra, Head of Transport, said: "The purpose of the meeting was for invited businesses and large employers, who are likely to be affected by the works, to be kept informed of the latest plans surrounding Wessex Fields and also Blackwater Junction improvements which start in September.

“By doing so they can then can make plans within their organisations about how they will manage their businesses around the construction as it happens and also keep their staff up to date. Mr O'Luby, who represents a residents group, was not among the invitees but was allowed to stay and he asked a number of questions which were answered.

"Residents were previously invited to a number of public exhibitions about the schemes held earlier this Spring which were well attended and widespread feedback received. A further programme of proactive communications activity will be starting in mid-July aimed atmaking people aware of what is happening at Blackwater and also, around the plans for Wessex Fields. We would encourage people to stay up to date by signing up to the blog at A338.info."