CRUCIAL work is still needed to secure a new country park vital to offset nature conservation damage by Weymouth's new relief road, it has been warned.

The route will punch a four-mile single carriageway road from the Manor Roundabout to the Ridgeway in a £77 million scheme.

The project also includes numerous road and junction improvements, the creation of a Lodmoor park and ride site and widespread landscaping.

Part of the scheme proposes a park in the Lorton Valley, which is supposed to include land to help compensate for any road damage to other areas.

But Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's formal response to Dorset County Council's relief road scheme - which councillors are expected to fine-tune at Wednesday's planning and traffic committee - has exposed a gap in planning for the road.

Members may only show their support for the road project if county colleagues take several key points on board.

They include 'a clear commitment' to include a park, with a legally-binding management plan for it agreed with the borough council, other landowners and interested parties.

Councillors will be told these critical points are not only 'an outstanding issue' with the county council's current application but also with their previous one for the road.

A report from borough officers to the meeting says the application 'does not address how the additional areas fundamental to the creation of a country park are to be secured and managed'.

It adds that any planning permission for the road should include finding the land for the park.

The borough also wants county agreement on the quality of new rugby pitches provided if a planned park and ride scheme takes Weymouth Rugby Club's land in Monmouth Avenue.