THE long-awaited Stourport Relief Road is back on track after fears it had been by-passed by the authorities.

Worcestershire County Council has agreed to look again at the possibility of a relief road to ease traffic congestion in Stourport town centre.

If its feasibility study shows the road is needed the council will make a bid for funding.

The much-vaunted project was shelved four years ago when the Tory Government slashed its road-building programme.

But the Labour Government has stumped up a £60 billion cash boost for road schemes as part of its 10-year Transport Plan.

Wyre Forest MP David Lock, who has been pressing for the relief road for Stourport, has written to the county council requesting no delay in commissioning the study.

He said: "Many constituents have raised the problems of traffic congestion in Stourport town centre and suggested that a general by-pass would reduce traffic and bring life back to Stourport.

"I have no doubt that something must be done to improve traffic flow in this beautiful riverside town."

He added: "The recent Government announcement of £180 billion for transport schemes means that now is the right time to commission a feasibility study to look at this proposal.

"Money will become available for schemes such as this and I am determined that Stourport should have the benefit of any road improvement money which becomes available."

There have been calls for the road to be built for 30 years.

There are fears the existing road bridge over the River Severn, built 130 years ago, will not be able to take the strain of heavy traffic in the long term.

Stourport county councillor Carol Warren said of the survey: "I believe it will show that not only are there good environmental reasons to build the relief road, it will also enable residents to travel across Stourport even at busy times."

County council economic development and regeneration portfolio holder Colin Beardwood, who has been in correspondence with Mr Lock, is presently on holiday and unavailable for comment.