THE Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has launched an attack on the public consultation for the Stonehenge road improvements, labelling it biased and misleading.

The charity has written to the Highways Agency outlining its concerns about the way information has been presented in the consultation literature and displays.

It has also called into question the level of ecological data gathered to support statements made about the pros and cons of the two bypass routes.

The RSPB's south-west regional director, Tony Richardson, said that both the northern and southern route options would be equally damaging to the area's wildlife, but the information contained in the consultation leaflet understated the damaging effects of the southern route.

He said it was not clear why full details of the wildlife that would be affected by the southern route had not been publicised.

The society claims there is evidence not only that barn owls nest and feed on the line of the potential southern route but that land close to it is also used by other breeding birds, bats and amphibians.

Mr Richardson said: "We do not understand how the information for the public consultation has been gathered because, as far as we know, no ecological survey work has been carried out specifically for the purpose of this road review."

The Highways Agency is a member of the Stonehenge world heritage site committee, which has discussed the area's wildlife at many of its meetings and events meaning, said the charity, that it should be well aware of the potential damage a southern bypass would cause.

Despite this, the RSPB said the only data requested by the agency concerned stone-curlews, ignoring other species that could be affected by a new road.

"People and organisations responding to the consultation are currently basing their views on at best inadequate and at worst misleading and unrepresentative information," said Mr Richardson "This is unfair not just to those who want to have their say but to everyone who values wildlife."

The RSPB has called on the Highways Agency to correct publicly the biodiversity information provided for the A303 review of options for Stonehenge leaflet, so that those who still want to respond to the consultation can be better informed.