NOW is the chance to finally get on with a north-west link road around Worcester – using £58 million of cash from Europe to get it started.

That’s the call from a city councillor, who says a massive cash injection from the EU could be the key to finally “solving the infrastructure problems” plaguing Worcester.

In July Worcestershire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was told it was getting £58.1 million from a new European fund designed to boost regeneration. The cash is meant to give a leg-up to private sector businesses, unlock their potential and position the county for the decade ahead.

Councillor Chris Mitchell says the cash windfall is an opportunity, especially if it can be supplemented by other sources of money.

He believes if the county council could lobby some of the major developers looking to invest in the city, such as Welbeck Land and Seven Capital, it could help boost the kitty further.

He said: “Surely the first priority would be to build a second bridge across the river, but if the county are in any doubt, hold a poll.

“This money, linked with the cash offered by developers Welbeck and the mystery supermarket mooted for a site near Carrington Bridge could solve our infrastructure problems in the next 24 months – wouldn’t that be brilliant for the city?”

For at least a decade Worcestershire County Council has considered creating the north-west link road, but the idea has been put on the backburner due to the estimated £120 million cost.

Back in 2010 a route was made public – one which would link the Claines and Crown East roundabouts and include a new river bridge at Hallow, either to the west or east of the village. But the council has urged caution against it, saying it is unlikely that the £58.1 million would be used on just one project.

Worcestershire’s LEP is going to work with the county council on drawing up plans for spending the cash, and says it is more likely to be split in various directions.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy leader and the cabinet member responsible for the economy, said: “The LEP will be looking at a strategy and vision which will drive how this money is spent, but it is unlikely that the cash will go on one large allocation.

“It sounds like a lot of money but actually, it’s coming to the county over a number of years.”

Peter Pawsey, chairman of the Worcestershire LEP, said: “This money is trickling through over the next seven years – it’s a few million each year and while some could go on infrastructure, we’re talking at a totally different scale.”