IN a last ditch attempt to stop a tunnel being built under the M4 the Campaign To Protect Rural England is pleading with Swindon Council to change its mind.

The group says the council is rushing through a decision to build the tunnel without waiting for a report from an independent planning inspector.

And Charmian Spickernell, the vice-chairman of the Wiltshire branch, said the CPRE is prepared to fight the council if it goes ahead.

At a full council meeting last night Mrs Spickernell asked if councillors will wait for the outcome of the report before they sign the legal agreement for the tunnel.

She said if the council refuses to wait the CPRE is preparing for a judicial review to fight the decision.

The council has already approved the £4 million tunnel, which will form a link from Croft Road, in Old Town, to Hay Lane, south of junction 16, as part of the Front Garden Development.

But Mrs Spickernell said: "Why can't the council wait for the report and let the democratic process happen?"

She believes the judicial review is the only thing the CPRE can do to fight against the council's decision.

Mrs Spickernell says the tunnel will not ease traffic congestion.

She said: "The link only has one entrance in Swindon, at Croft Road. The bottleneck at the Croft Road end will be indescribable."

Gavin Calthrop, a spokes-man for Swindon Council said: "During the course of the Local Plan Inquiry the inspector will be examining the Local Transport Plan aspect of the Local Plan.

"The link road is part of this plan but the item was considered on January 20, 2004 as part of the overall planning application.

"This application went through a rigorous process of consultation and statutory planning processes.

"It was approved by the council's planning committee and then referred to the Secretary of State, as all such large scale developments are.

"His decision was that the planning committee could determine the application so the approval stood.

"So, while the link road may be the subject of objections as part of the Local Plan inquiry, the planning decision cannot be overturned."

Lyndsay Scanlan