A PONTOON bridge to keep traffic flowing through Upton during flooding is being demanded by West Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer.

Sir Michael called for money to be made available for the temporary bridge after hearing the Government announce that the problem of flooding in the town was insoluble.

The bridge, which could carry the weight of vehicles, would straddle the dip in the road between the existing Upton Bridge and the marina.

Sir Michael explained that the measure would be designed to ensure that Ryall and Ripple were not cut off from the rest of the town, as was the case last year.

He tabled the question in the House of Commons on Monday (October 29), asking whether the funds would be made available.

Elliot Morley MP, parliamentary under-secretary at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), had earlier announced that portable flood defences would be introduced in Shrewsbury and Bewdley.

However, he said that a feasibility study has reported that the introduction of permanent anti-flood defences along the river was doubtful on technical and economic grounds because they would be "disproportionately expensive".

Peter Pantling, of Upton's Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), said he welcomed Sir Michael's initiative with regard to a pontoon bridge but thought there was more that could be done in terms of flood prevention.

"I don't disagree about the magnitude of the problem in Upton. The town is built on gravel and the water wells up through the ground," he explained.

"I'm sure they know what they are talking about but I think there are things they can do by looking at flood defence strategies up and down the river."

Meanwhile, Sir Michael will be attending the SARA-organised flood defence fair in the Memorial Hall tomorrow (Saturday).