OPPONENTS of the Weymouth relief road are plotting to sink the plans at a public inquiry, MP Jim Knight warned today.

The South Dorset MP said that the chances of the Government calling-in the £77 million plans for a public inquiry are finely balanced.

But he has warned that opponents will try every trick in the book' to stretch out the planning process in the hope of defeating the plans.

Now he is planning a series of meetings with ministers and statutory bodies in the hope of avoiding an inquiry.

He claimed it would be expensive, time-consuming and possibly fatal to the scheme.

The MP said: "If Natural England as the statutory body pushes for the public inquiry then it will be difficult for the Government office to refuse.

"My judgement at the moment is that it is finely balanced. I'm seeking a meeting with Natural England this week to see what their appetite is for a public inquiry."

Mr Knight said it would be in the interests of opponents of the road such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Transport 2000 for an inquiry to be held.

"Opponents know we want to get it built in time for 2012. They will seek to stretch it out and try every trick in the book to delay a decision in our favour.

"If there is an inquiry we would hope that it is completed quickly and we still get the right decision.

We would be confident of our case going into any possible inquiry but the outcome would be more uncertain."

Mr Knight said Dorset County Council's support for the planning application had sent out a positive message.

But he said a planning decision would have to consider other factors as well as local support.

"The experts tell me that the nature of these decisions is based on precedent rather than public support," he said.

"But I spend an awful lot of my time on this and I would say we have certainly got it closer than ever been before.

"As I understand it the process would be a full inquiry with legal teams representing each side and a planning inspector making a recommendation.

"I would say we don't need an inquiry because the issue has already been determined locally.

"The arguments are well-rehearsed and the democratically elected leaders very strongly want this road.

"The view of those accountable is clear - they want this relief road."