ANTI-road protesters kick off their campaign against Lancaster's planned Northern bypass today (Wednesday) but they have already been branded as naive'.

A public meeting against the long-awaited link road from the M6 to Heysham is to be held at Lancaster's Friends Meeting House.

Greens will claim the proposed route is a white elephant' - but Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Geraldine Smith and city council leader Ian Barker are ready to do battle with them.

Meeting organiser Cllr John Whitelegg reckons the £85m route, selected over the more popular Western route, will provide little traffic relief and add to greenhouse gas emissions.

The Western route was ruled out because a colony of newts was found to be living slap bang in the middle of the road, forcing councillors to opt for the less popular Northern road.

"The Northern Bypass is a white elephant," says Cllr Whitelegg.

"It is costly, it will fail to deliver the promises made for it, it will damage the environment and it will create extra traffic.

"It's high time this road idea was ditched and we all got on with some serious transport planning to give us all world best walking, cycling and public transport facilities."

But Ms Smith says: "I have been invited to the meeting but unfortunately I have other Westminster commitments.

"But I feel the bypass is essential for the area and although I would have preferred the Western route before the newts won this is still needed.

"And I think that if people say we don't need the new road they are being nave."

Meanwhile, Cllr Barker is also getting behind the bypass and says: "My view is that it is essential for the area.

"County now have access to the land on the route and are carrying out detailed survey work, soil analysis and so on.

"The latest information is that a planning application is likely to be submitted this summer and a link might give opportunities for a park and ride scheme. Both sides are keen progress this.

"The city council at its August 2004 meeting said that it wished to see progress on HGV routing and that it wished to see further progress on sustainable transport measures prior to the opening of the route."

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.