A CALL for Stourport Town Council to stand up for itself and demand the completion of the relief road and a second bridge over the River Severn was called "naive" and "futile".

The motion was proposed at a council meeting last night by Independent Health Concern councillor, Dixon Sheppard, who was concerned about the potential for gridlock in the town.

He said: "I know Worcestershire is not well funded by central government but we have got to stand up for ourselves and do something to make sure we get what we need."

His motion was successful despite the fact that many councillors abstained from voting because they believed the motion was unrealistic.

Conservative councillor, David Little, said: "This application is so naive. It is as though this has never been asked for before. We have been asking for a bypass and a second bridge for 30 years. It's futile."

Labour councillor, Jamie Shaw, said: "I have dropped all references to a relief road in political literature because I don't think it is worth getting the communities hopes up. It just isn't likely to happen."

Conservative councillor, June Salter, said: "We talk about this every year and every time we bring it up something comes along and squashes it."