A DORSET transport group has launched a campaign to collect 1,000 letters opposing the Weymouth relief road.

The Dorset Sustainable Transport Group, a newly-formed committee representing groups across the county, hopes to gather enough opposition to make its voice heard by Dorset County Council.

At the group's second meeting there were mixed opinions about the benefits and downfalls of the road, but the most debated topic was that of the 2012 Olympics.

Howard Thomas, chairman of the Council to Protect Rural England (CPRE), said: "Ken Livingstone has advertised the Olympics as the 'Green Olympics'. He has promised that all contestants and spectators at the London Olympics will be able to get to the events by public transport.

"So for Weymouth to build a road that opposes that idea seems very strange."

The Dorset Sustainable Transport Group is made up of representatives from Dorset Agenda 21, the Council to Protect Rural England, Sustrans, Transport 2000, Dorchester Area Parishes Transport Action Group, Friends of the Earth, the Dorset Cyclists' Network, and members of the public.

The group is devoting its attention to a range of transport issues across Dorset, including disabled access, cycle routes and the Local Transport Plan. Steve Willis of South Dorset Friends of the Earth, who was chairing the meeting, said: "When the Government is giving out sustainability targets and the council is in approval of them I just don't see how building the relief road is going to help to meet those targets."

The group acknowledged the council's aim to provide a more efficient and welcoming route into Weymouth for the 15,000 spectators expected on each of the 14 days of the Olympics.

Richard Frampton Hobbs, former UKIP parlimentary candidate for North Dorset, said: "We have got to go right back to asking what is the point of the road and is the road going to achieve that point? But if I was Weymouth I would say I've got 14 days and I'm going to show myself off as best I can."