THE Bishop of Salisbury could yet step in to the controversial dispute over plans to flatten a Poole graveyard.

More than 800 graves will be built over if St Mary's Church, on Longfleet Road, is granted planning permission for a two-storey church hall and car park.

Families of the dead buried in the yard have expressed their anguish at the proposals and many have written to the Bishop of Salisbury asking for his intervention.

And while a planning decision from the council is needed before any involvement of the Diocese of Salisbury, the diocese admits it is monitoring the situation closely.

The Rev Rob Marshall, spokesman for the diocese, said: "We have made a site visit and asked for outline proposals to look at.

"The Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) are aware of the situation and will be discussing the plans on Friday.

"However, the DAC can do nothing without planning permission being passed first."

The council's planning committee will take into account dozens of objections to the plans when it discusses the application.

Many of the church's parishioners have also spoken out in favour of the hall, which the church says is needed to support a growing congregation.

The diocese says it is sympathetic to the families' plight while remaining supportive of the church.

"The diocese has a forward-looking strategy for the 21st century, but this does not mean it will ride over people's sensitivity," said Mr Marshall.

"We are very sensitive to those who would like to develop community facilities, but also to those whose previous generations are at rest in the area."

If the council planning committee approves the application, the diocese will need to grant what is known as a faculty before any work could begin.

A date has yet to be set for the planning committee to meet and discuss the St Mary's proposals.