PLANS to build a new junction on the A338 at Wessex Fields will not be considered until March.

Bournemouth councillor David Smith, cabinet member for planning, made the announcement at a full council meeting on Tuesday, after being asked by resident Mark Elkins about the two different deadlines published for submitted comments on the application.

Cllr Smith said: "The council as the local planning authority are required to post a site notice advertising the application and providing opportunity to make representations.

"The site notice provides a date by which representations should be made, the normal period being 21 days.

"However in this case the applicants have agreed a timetable whereby the application will not be determined until March at the earliest, thus in practice any representations received during February will also be considered.

"All late representations will be reported to the planning board."

The scheme, intended to create a less congested road network for the Wessex Fields designated business site by Royal Bournemouth Hospital, has been put forward by Bournemouth council, Dorset County Council and the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.