SWINDONIANS are being urged to voice their objections to plans for a tunnel under the M4 and bring about a public inquiry.

Plans to build a tunnel under the M4 as part of the Front Garden development have sparked outrage from people across the town and beyond.

And now campaigners are further dismayed a public inquiry has not been launched to look at the plans.

James Gray MP for North Wiltshire has already called on the Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to call in the tunnel blueprints for official scrutiny.

This would mean an independent planning inspector instigating an inquiry into the proposals, which could delay the project by years.

Charmian Spickernell, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England group (CPRE), says it defies belief that an independent inquiry has not yet been arranged.

She said: "People are very concerned that they have not been consulted about this when it would have a huge impact on them.

"There seems to be a complete stifling of public debate about it.

"We are encouraging more and more people to write letters to Mr Prescott to make known their objections because there is clearly a high degree of opposition.

"I can't understand why there has been a delay in calling this in.

"Mr Prescott has been called in to look at much lesser things. The weight of public concern here is growing and growing.

"If this goes ahead it will be disastrous."

The CPRE is concerned that the proposals go against policies outlined in the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan.

These policies state new developments should not be directly linked to major routes outside built-up areas unless an overriding need can be shown.

Mrs Spickernell said: "There are alternative routes. The plans contradict their policies."

She also said she was disappointed that the public would not be permitted to discuss the matter at an upcoming local public examination of the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan.

Swindon Council approved the £4 million tunnel, which will form the link from Croft Road in Old Town to Hay Lane south of Junction 16, as part of the Front Garden development.

Emma-Kate Lidbury