A PLANNED extension to a Ferndown industrial estate could bring 500 extra jobs to the town, but could also mean extra noise, pollution and traffic for people living in the town.

An outline planning application has been submitted by Sussex-based Glenbeigh Developments Ltd, for 23 acres of land at Cobham Gate, increasing the size of the existing Uddens estate, which employs 5,000 people, by about 20 per cent.

Town councillor Peter Oggelsby said: "There would be more noise and smells and inconvenience to road users. There might be justification for it if the existing units were full but they are not.

"The people living nearby already have noise and smells from the estate and you have to think how much worse will it be if it is that much closer."

The land has been earmarked for industrial use in local area plans since the 1980s but with the stipulation that, in the absence of the long-mooted A31 link road to Poole, a plan is produced demonstrating how traffic would be managed on surrounding roads.

East Dorset District Council planning officer Lynda King said: "The major issue on this application is the transport network locally and if it can cope with the extra traffic."

Mrs King said a lot of work still has to be done on the details of the application, which does include soundproofing and landscaping measures to form a barrier between the estate and people living nearby.

Ferndown Town Council's planning committee has yet to discuss the proposal and is expected to hold a public meeting in the next few weeks to gauge residents' opinion.

Glenbeigh Ltd hopes that, subject to planning permission being granted, work can start on the scheme in July this year, with the first units being occupied by spring 2008.