A leading conservation charity is preparing to withdraw its opposition to the dualling of the missing link of the A11 following a positive meeting with highways chiefs.

A leading conservation charity is preparing to withdraw its opposition to the dualling of the missing link of the A11 following a positive meeting with highways chiefs.

The RSPB last month said it was prepared to force a public inquiry into the upgrade of last single carriageway stretch of road between Norwich and London following concerns about the impact on the protected stone curlew.

The society today said it was getting closer to resolving its objections to the A11 Thetford-Barton Mills scheme following 'extremely positive' talks with the Highways Agency and its consultants last week .

Officials from the Highways Agency agreed to undertake a detailed environmental assessment of the impact of the nine mile dualling project on the stone curlew and local wildlife.

A spokeswoman for the RSPB today said the charity would be in a position to withdraw its objections following the satisfactory conclusion and mitigation measures set out by the environmental study in two or three weeks time.

Mary Norden, RSPB conservation officer for Breckland said: 'We are confident that the Highways Agency and their consultants, together with the help of the RSPB and Natural England, will undertake the appropriate work needed to adequately assess the environmental impacts of the road improvements.'

'This means that they can then provide the most suitable mitigation land for our very special wildlife here in the Brecks and the future of the stone curlew population shouldn't be in danger.'

The A11 upgrade is scheduled to start at the end of 2010, if a public inquiry is called later this year.