HIGHWAY chiefs felt the full fury of more than 100 Liden residents who want plans for the Commonhead flyover confined to the dustbin.

Scores of residents living near the A419 fear the £13 million scheme will cause additional noise and ruin the landscape.

Traffic has increased at Commonhead since the opening of the Great Western Hospital while further planned developments, including a university, could result in even greater congestion.

Residents fear the plans to raise a 1km section of the carriageway over the traffic-clogged roundabout will not ease congestion.

Opponents turned up the heat on road planners at a public meeting in Liden Community Centre on Monday evening claim their views were not taken into account during a public consultation exercise last year.

There was strong objection to a fence being built alongside the western edge of the road to contain noise.

Residents say the fence which will be between two and four metres high will ruin their views of farmland east of the A419.

One angry protester labelled the flyover a monstrosity. Many said an underpass would be preferable. Although backed by Swindon Council, this idea was thrown out by the Highways Agency because of the extra cost and the area's high water table.

Residents were also concerned that house prices could fall because of the flyover.

But David Radway, who is overseeing the plans for the Highways Agency, defended the scheme.

He said: "It will alleviate congestion and improve safety.

"The fence will mitigate problems with noise, and we will plant trees and bushes to hide it."

Trevor Turpin, who is assessing the environmental impact of the scheme, admitted that people living to the east of the carriageway would experience an increase in noise.

But he said it would not be a significant increase.

South Swindon MP Julia Drown, who attended the meeting, said: "I am extremely concerned about noise and the environmental impact, and I will be ensuring that the Highways Agency is aware of residents' concerns."

Ms Drown also claimed traffic flowing more freely through Commonhead would mean there would be extra congestion at the junction 15 roundabout with the M4.

Ronald Goodwin, 57, of White Edge Moor, lives near the A419.

He said: "We do not want to have to look at a six feet fence.

"It will ruin the area, which is used by walkers and is a popular leisure area. The road is not needed, and will not help congestion."

Alex Wilkinson, 55, also of White Edge Moor, added: "It won't help the situation, and is a waste of money."

Further public consultations and exhibitions will be held before the final plans are submitted for approval in September.

If given the go-ahead the road would be opened in 2006.

Tamash Lal