Hundreds of commuters will have to wait for a new park and ride to open near Parkway Railway Station after the Government's Highways Agency questioned the need for the 200-space facility.

The agency threatened to issue a so-called direction of non-approval unless it had proof the park and ride would tackle a specific parking problem.

South Gloucestershire Council has now withdrawn the scheme for land next to Hunts Ground Road in Stoke Gifford so it can try to resolve the matter before re-submitting the proposal.

But it fears the delay will significantly hold up the construction programme, which it had hoped to start next year.

Stoke Gifford councillors have accused the agency of "poking its nose" into something for which it was not responsible.

Roads which come under the Highways Agency's authority include motorways and trunk roads, while councils deal with the local road network.

But the agency said it had to know how a new park and ride would affect the level of traffic on major roads in the area. It also wanted to find out if a problem with drivers parking on roads near the station was a result of too few parking spaces at Parkway or just drivers avoiding parking fees.

The planned Parkway North park and ride will be used primarily by train passengers travelling out of Parkway.

But it is hoped it will also attract commuters, who can catch buses from the station for the final leg of their journey to work.

Funding is already in place and the council said the facility, to be covered by CCTV cameras, would help encourage more people to travel by public transport.

It also hopes it will cut the number of cars being left on surrounding streets. It said some drivers could not get into the station's car parks, especially during the week, causing a nuisance to residents and a hazard to other road users.

Parking restrictions will be introduced in the area but that will only increase the need for off-street parking.

Stoke Gifford councillors Keith Cranney and Justin Howells said they were "astonished" at the actions of the Highways Agency.

Mr Cranney said: "It is not even responsible for the local road network, yet it is poking its nose in Stoke Gifford affairs and claiming there are no local parking difficulties."

Mr Howells said: "Maybe it should come and view the Stoke Gifford area so it can see for itself the difficulties that our residents have to deal with before making such ridiculous statements and undermining efforts to tackle these issues."

Jacqui Ashman, assistant network manager at the Highways Agency in the South West, told the council she needed to know whether it was people working locally who were parking on the streets or rail and bus passengers.

She also wanted to find out who would use the park and ride, so the impact on the area's major roads could be measured.

She said: "We are not in a position to understand if the parking issue on streets is due to parking demand outstripping provision or whether it is due to drivers seeking free parking."