A NEW plan has been put before residents who live next to a school that will be rebuilt.

Queen Elizabeth's School in Wimborne has been awarded £33 million under the government's School for the Future programme.

Residents living on The Broads in Wimborne had previously expressed concerns that a proposal to funnel traffic through their junction and down part of their road during building work would cause chaos.

Last week residents and parish, district and county councillors met with senior project manager David Crudgington, and with David Diaz, the project manager for the environment directorate at Dorset County Council.

Mr Crudgington said the original planning application was withdrawn because of a number of issues.

"We will be resubmitting it with a few changes to it either this week or the beginning of next week," he told the meeting.

He explained the new plan still aimed to create in and out carriageways on The Broads to get traffic to the school and leisure centre but this would now give way to residents at a newly created junction on The Broads itself. Traffic lights and a crossing on the main road, and traffic lights on The Broads have also been added.

He said a new access road and new car park had moved away from the houses slightly, giving extra space to add extra trees, shrubs and planting.

Speaking on behalf of the group, resident Chris Brown said they were happy for the school rebuilding to go ahead.

But they were not keen on their junction being used, or the idea of blocking off part of The Broads or making it one way, and they did not like the proposed junction with leisure traffic.

He added: "We would have at least 400 cars a day and a car park with idling engines.

"That would have a light effect, as they will have a floodlight. It will have an exhaust emission impact. It will blow into The Broads. There will also be noise."

Mr Crudgington said the proposals would be looked at again and another meeting arranged with the group.