NEGOTIATIONS about the future of the Weymouth relief road have reached a crucial stage, say highways chiefs.

Dorset County Council is locked in talks with Natural England about resolving environmental objections to the £77 million scheme.

Natural England - which has linked English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service under one umbrella - is opposed to the project on the grounds that a section of the planned route will go through Dorset's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) north of Littlemoor Road.

Now after months of discussions the council is awaiting a formal response from Natural England saying it is satisfied with the revised plans and will drop its objections.

The council says that if all goes to plan the authority will consider an amended planning application in January next year.

According to both sides negotiations have now reached a sensitive stage' with each hoping the differences can be resolved.

Miles Butler, director of environmental services at the council, said: "We have been in the process of trying to negotiate away the objections of Natural England.

"As a result of the discussions we have made some amendments to the design.

"We are now considering what formalities in planning terms we need to follow because our intention is to get the scheme considered by the planning committee at its first meeting in January.

"I would say we are very close to agreeing what is the best scheme in terms of landscaping because that is Natural England's main concern.

"We are now waiting for it to give us a formal statement."

Dorset County Council's cabinet committee is due to be updated on the latest developments at a meeting tomorrow.

A spokesman for Natural England said: "We have recently held discussions about revisions to the planning proposal for Weymouth relief road and the necessary measures to mitigate against adverse environmental impact of any route considered.

"Although there will be an adverse impact on the Dorset AONB, it is our opinion that the revised proposal will be less damaging to the environment than the previous scheme, providing the benefits from planning conditions are fully realised."

West Dorset District Council must be consulted on its views before the new planning application is considered.

David Evans, director of planning and environment, said: "The council adopted the new Local Plan on July 14, 2006. It includes a policy safeguarding a route for the Weymouth Relief Road.

"I understand that the county council will be submitting amended plans for the relief road.

"The district council will provide its views once these have been received and carefully considered."