PERSHORE Town Council pledged its support to the development of the northern link road once again by approving a sum of £20,000 be used to help fund a plan and some surveys.

At a meeting of the council on Thursday they discussed the proposal to spend £20,000 of the council's New Homes Bonus money on the detailed project development plan, environmental survey and topographical study.

The money, which was earmarked for this purpose last summer, will go towards the project, which will cost £35,000, with Wychavon District Council topping up the plot.

Overall the new road and bridge over the railway line is expected to cost in the region of £3.4 to £4 million.

The road is the town council's top priority and has also been named as an essential piece of infrastructure in the Strategic Economic Plan - a bid from the Local Enterprise Partnership to the government for funding.

Mayor councillor Charles Tucker said: "This is the top priority for the town council. I think we should identify the £20,000 so we can start this work and demonstrate how much it means to the town and that Pershore as a community is pushing this as quickly as we can.

"The government are also looking for community support projects and there is no better way of showing that."