THE public will have a chance to give crucial backing for a multi-million pound relief road for Stourport which would kick-start economic regeneration.

An exhibition of various plans to ease traffic congestion in the tourist town, including the £27.5 million road incorporating a second River Severn crossing, will be held on March 5 in the Civic Centre.

Among other options are a £19 million partial relief road and a host of "traffic management" schemes, such as making Vale Road two-way, costing as little as £160,000.

Worcestershire County Council integrated transport and road safety manager John Seddon said a bid for Government funding for the preferred plan would be submitted in July.

He added the "maximum benefits" would come from the full relief road but stressed the public's input was critical.

"To make the case to Government would depend on a large amount of public support," he said.

However, he pointed out such a costly project would not be approved by the Department of Transport unless the "strong" case for economic regeneration was highlighted.

"Schemes are measured against five criteria - and none of them are traffic congestion."

And Mr Seddon warned both the full and partial bypass were "long-term measures" which would not "happen overnight".

At a presentation by consulting engineers Halcrow during a Wyre Forest Highways Partnership Forum meeting on Friday, Wyre Forest district councillors were shown how Stourport's clogged streets would be eased by the new road.

Senior consultant Richard Leonard said action was badly needed. "Stourport is congested now. Give it five or 10 years and it's going to be very congested."

Councillor Howard Martin, economic regeneration portfolio holder, said the town lost trade because it was "gridlocked" on Bank Holidays.

The full relief road would link Dunley Road in Areley Kings to Minster Road, crossing the river downstream of the existing bridge and largely following the disused railway.

A partial scheme - which Mr Leonard said "gets rid of 60 per cent of the problem" - would run from Areley Kings to the roundabout at Hartlebury Road and Worcester Road.

Both projects would also involve measures to make the town centre more pedestrian and cycle-friendly.