EVESHAM’S MP Peter Luff has met the Government’s transport minister to reinforce the pressing need for the town’s Abbey Bridge to be replaced as soon as possible.

He said that Evesham town centre will be “strangled”, bus services will suffer and the emergency services will be affected, unless the Abbey Bridge and Viaduct are replaced at a cost of £9 million.

He met transport minister Norman Baker at the House of Commons last week to make the case for cash to build the new bridge using funds from the Department of Transport’s major schemes funding pot.

A decision on which schemes will benefit from the fund is being made in the next few weeks.

He told Mr Baker about the risk that continuing weight restrictions and the closure of the bridge could have a devastating impact on Evesham.

Mr Luff said: “Mr Baker showed a lively interest in the project and was particularly struck by the impact on bus passengers were the bridge to be closed for a long period. He indicated that the total costs of the other schemes around the country – with which we were effectively in competition for funding – had come down significantly, meaning a higher proportion will go ahead.

“I also emphasised the very quick start that Worcestershire County Council could make on the scheme.

“I know that some local traders are understandably concerned that the closure period is likely to be very serious for their businesses, but the unavoidable truth is that we face a simple choice.

“We can have a planned closure with proper traffic management schemes put in place in good time, with a brand new bridge and viaduct at the end.

“Or we can have an unplanned closure at some unknown time in the next few years with no warning and no new bridge and viaduct at the end of it.”