CAMPAIGNERS fighting Witney’s controversial link road scheme have presented a 4,000-strong petition to the Prime Minister.

Anti-Cogges Link Road group Witney First took the petition to David Cameron’s Witney constituency office in High Street yesterday.

They also handed over a survey of 1,061 homes on the Cogges estate, which showed that 93 per cent of the 586 households that responded were against the scheme.

Witney First member David Condon said: “We think that David Cameron is perhaps a bit out of touch with what is happening in Witney at the moment.

“We think he should have been more prepared to meet Witney First to find out its feelings, which are supported by many of his constituents.”

The Cogges Link Road, connecting Oxford Hill to Station Lane, aims to reduce congestion and pollution in Witney town centre.

Campaigners against the road argue that a four-way junction on the A40 at Shores Green is a better option.

Mr Condon added: “The petition and survey shows the overwhelming support for our campaign against the Cogges Link Road and for the Shores Green option from the people of Witney.”

Yesterday was day seven of an inquiry into the scheme. It will decide whether Oxfordshire County Council can compulsory purchase land needed for the road.

Mr Condon spoke at the inquiry earlier this week.

He said: “The fact is that if the Cogges Link Road were ever built, it would forever destroy 30 acres of environmentally sensitive and necessary floodplain and could have extremely dangerous, unpredictable and irreversible flooding consequence for our town.”

Yesterday saw Duncan Enright, who represents East Witney on Witney Town Council, speak against the link road.

He said: “The reason I was elected is likely to have been the strong feeling against the Cogges Link Road.”

He added that the design of the roundabout at Oxford Hill was “rather dangerous” for pedestrians and cyclists.

Last Thursday, the inquiry opened with David Holgate, the barrister representing the council, arguing there was a “compelling case” for the road. He said it would alleviate the town centre’s “considerable problems” of congestion, noise, air quality and transportation.

The inquiry will continue on Tuesday at the Methodist Church, High Street, with objector The Mawle Trust, which owns land needed for the road, giving its opening speech.

Mr Cameron was unavailable for comment last night.