PLANS for a new road junction near Pilning that will open up thousands of acres of Severnside farmland to development are to be decided by the government.

The 2,000 acres of land between at Marsh Common and Pilning have been earmarked for business use for the last 50 years.

Earlier this year development giants Redrow, who own the land, submitted revised plans for an access road at Ellinghust Farm, raising fears of massively increased volumes in the area.

Worried by the potential impact on residents and the environment, South Gloucestershire planners deferred a decision to seek legal advice.

Now the firm has lodged an appeal to Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears, on the grounds that the council has failed to determine the scheme within the eight week deadline.

Councillors are again being warned that they are powerless to halt the massive development, despite local feeling that the 1957 permission is completely out of step with present day traffic conditions.

A barrister has advised the council that its hands are still tied by the decision taken in Gloucester half a century ago when the area was part of Gloucestershire.

In a report to councillors attending a meeting in Thornbury today, planning officer Michael Simmons says the council could only object to the details of the access scheme itself and not reasons for it.

"Counsel further advises that issues relating to the amenities of neighbours cannot be relevant as the principle of constructing an access for all traffic has been established and is intended to serve a vast development," says his report.

It adds that had the council still been in a position to determine the application it would remain the view of planning officers that it was acceptable and should be approved.

Pilning and Severn Beach Parish Council has objected to the junction scheme from the start.

"It is a straight stretch of road but there have been two fatal accidents there in the last 10 years and a junction would just make matter worse," said chairman Ivor Humphries.

"Traffic is already so bad that we are virtually trapped in the village, especially at his time of the year with traffic going to The Mall."