Community leaders have warned there is 'absolutely no time to waste' after the town was set an 'ambitious target' to complete a business case to secure a third crossing by next March's Budget.

The prime minister, chancellor and transport secretary all promised the town a much-needed £80million new bridge by 2020.

However despite government support, Department for Transport (DfT) officials have said they need to see evidence the project can be realistically delivered and offers value for money.

Community leaders have warned that 'we need to crack on with this as quickly as possible' in order to complete a public consultation, technical examinations and assessments of traffic, environmental benefits and the wider economic effects in less than nine months.

But businessman Peter Colby – who is putting forward his own idea of a Dutch-style barrage system – said: 'I don't believe we should even enter into an argument about business plans, as you start kicking it into the long grass.'

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