CAMPAIGNERS’ attempts to have planning permission for the Bournemouth Spur Road flyover withdrawn have failed.

Opponents of the controversial Wessex Fields scheme had urged BCP Council to revoke approval of the second phase of the project having shelved it last year.

But council leader Vikki Slade said it would have been a “lengthy and costly” process that was not worth the time and cost.

Planning permission for the multi-million pound new junction near Royal Bournemouth Hospital was granted in January 2019 by Bournemouth council.

Councillor David Kelsey, the chairman of its planning committee said it was "looking to the future" by approving it.

But following elections in May the administration of the new BCP Council agreed to scrap the second phase of the project for a new flyover creating a northbound connection to the Spur Road.

Cabinet member for regeneration, councillor Mark Howell, said he could not see “any enthusiasm” for the unfunded work.

Last month the council held a consultation event on the future of the scheme at which opponents of the project requested planning permission for the flyover be withdrawn.

But their hopes were quashed at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting when Cllr Slade said this would not be pursued.

Responding to a request by Friends of Riverside coordinator Conor O’Luby, she said she had “huge sympathy” for people living in the area but said the move would not be worthwhile.

“It is possible for the local planning authority to revoke part of the planning consent but it is a lengthy and costly process,” she said.

“We have been advised that should there be even a single objection to that process – and we know that there remain many individuals and groups who believe the building of the flyover should go ahead – it would instigate a referral to the secretary of state.

“I do not consider that there is sufficient benefit to the community in taking those steps and incurring additional works and costs for officers at a time when we need to create a new local plan, speed up the planning process and deal more robustly with cases of planning enforcement.”

She added the council had “no intention” of pursuing the second phase of the project.