DECISION-MAKING powers for the controversial Wessex Fields scheme should be taken out of Bournemouth council’s hands, an MP has said.

Tobias Ellwood has written to the local government secretary, James Brokenshire, requesting that he ‘call-in’ the scheme due to the council’s “inevitable and unavoidable bias”.

In a letter to Mr Brokenshire, the Bournemouth East MP said the process of the local authority being the applicant, landowner and decision-maker was “flawed” and that the planning application should be determined by “a higher and external” body.

Hundreds of residents and campaigners have objected to Bournemouth council’s Wessex Fields scheme which would see a major redesign of the road network around the A338 near Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Work would be split into two phases with the first seeing the creation of a southbound exit off the A338.

The second, which Mr Ellwood opposes, would involve the construction of a flyover to form a northbound connection.

The council says that the junction would “ease congestion” and bring in new jobs.

Members of its planning committee are due to consider the planning application at a special meeting on Monday.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the proposals by a planning officer at Blueprint Planning who was employed to “aid capacity” at the council.

The appointment of a private consultancy firm has raised concerns about the potential conflict of interest.

These fears have been echoed by Mr Ellwood who has urged Mr Brokenshire to ‘call-in’ the application and decide it himself.

Bournemouth Borough Council is the applicant, landowner and decision-maker,” Mr Ellwood wrote.

“Many, including myself, have argued that this process is flawed and has led to inevitable and unavoidable bias by the council.

“Ultimately, this decision is no longer one that can be made internally."

Blueprint Planning was employed to take on the role of planning officer for the application following the departure of council planner Sophie Edwards who had raised concerns about the scheme.

Since then, revised plans have been put forward by the council which include the exclusion of the historic Cob Barn’s demolition.

Gary Powell, the council's head of highways and transportation, said he was "very surprised" by the decision to refer the application to the Secretary of State and that it would cause a "significant delay".

“After nearly two years of extensive public consultation on the Wessex Fields plans we are extremely disappointed at the lateness of the decision to refer this matter to the Secretary of State.

“The council’s plans to build a new link road and junction connecting the A338 to Wessex Fields have been in the public domain for more than two years.

"Backed by central government funding, this scheme will provide a much needed second access to Royal Bournemouth Hospital, unlock a major economic development site, as well as ease congestion in the future.

“As part of the planning application process, we have listened carefully to the concerns raised by local residents, stakeholders and statutory consultees, and as a result we submitted a new planning application which addresses all those concerns.”

Richard Renaut, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS trust chief operating officer, said he was "disappointed and surprised" by Mr Ellwood's decision.

“A new junction on the A338 will help alleviate congestion ensuring our patients, visitors and hardworking staff would not have to endure delays accessing or leaving the site, particularly during peak periods in the afternoon."

Mark Axford, the council's head of planning, said that, should councillors approve the application, a decision notice could not be issued until the Secretary of State had decided whether or not to call it in.