A Euro MP is backing campaigners in their fight against a £14m link road in Witney -- as councillors finally prepare to consider plans.

A planning application for the 1.8km road, originally proposed in 1987 to combat congestion in the town centre, will be considered by Oxfordshire County Council on July 18.

The council's planning and regulation committee is recommended by council planners -- who drew up the scheme -- to give it the go ahead.

In a report to the committee, Chris Cousins, head of sustainable development, said: "The Cogges Link Road is an essential element in the highway infrastructure to cater for both growth to date, and for the planned future growth of Witney."

But Caroline Lucas, Green Party Euro MP for South East England, has criticised planners for failing to properly consider alternatives.

The Environment Agency, the Government agency which aims to protect the environment, has also objected over risk of damage to ecology.

It has asked for more information to prove the link road offers the best solution to Witney's traffic problems.

Dr Lucas has written to the council saying its plans go against Government guidelines which state that environmentally-sensitive sites should be protected.

The 7.3m wide single lane, two-way road would run from the Jubilee Lane junction at Oxford Hill, crossing two branches of the River Windrush, to Witan Way, near the Sainsbury's roundabout.

Objections have also been sent to the county council by the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Upper Thames Fisheries, and several residents.

West Oxfordshire District Council has voiced its support, welcoming the "much-needed" road and river crossing.

Witney Town Council raised no objections.

An Environmental Impact Assessment has been carried out, which is submitted with the planning application.