COUNCIL plans to put a new flyover on the A338 Wessex Way have been dubbed "spaghetti junction" by a town MP.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood has written to planning board chairman David Kelsey calling on the borough to drop 'Phase 2' of the Wessex Fields plan when it submits a planning application later this year.

While Mr Ellwood has backed Phase 1, creating a southbound slip road off the A338 running through Wessex Fields and linking up with the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, he says the phase two northbound flyover via Holdenhurst village could lead to inappropriate development of green belt land.

"My concerns are that ultimately, this phase may open up Bournemouth's last remaining area of green belt (behind Townsend) to housing development," Mr Ellwood said.

"Additionally, were Phase 2 to be completed it would involve destroying the oldest dwelling in Bournemouth, the Cob Barn, thought to be over five hundred years old, with huge historical significance to the area."

He said he supported the strategy to attract more businesses to the town, but was "surprised" that "no detailed thinking" had taken place on which businesses might occupy the site and that "not all road connection options had been considered".

"The road access therefore, is being built on speculation that interest will be generated at a later point," he said.

"Rather than building a 'spaghetti junction' a single slip-road could run up to the Blackwater Junction.

"I would further argue as Blackwater Junction and the Bournemouth Airport road are due for upgrade, and given the confirmation that AFC Bournemouth is to remain in King's Park, this particular application should have been considered in the wider context of traffic movements."

The council has secured funding for Phase 1 and a planning application is expected to be submitted either next month or in December.

As yet funding is not in place for Phase 2, however Cllr Mike Greene, cabinet member for transport, said it will "definitely" be included in the application.

On the MP's comment, he said Mr Ellwood "clearly has his right to be able to speak as an ordinary resident".

A campaign group, Friends of Riverside, has held protests against the scheme claiming it will result in greater congestion and air pollution and the loss of green belt land.