A SHOPKEEPER fed up with the traffic problems in Abingdon has come up with his own plan to tackle congestion - building a second bridge over the River Thames.

Peter Wiblin, who owns West End Newsagents, in Bury Street, presented his ideas to the town's chamber of commerce this week.

He has written to electricity firm e.on ask it to contribute to the estimated £10m cost.

Mr Wiblin, of Audlett Drive, believes that the company could build a hydro-electric plant on the site of the existing Abingdon weir and lock with a road bridge running over the top.

There is already a single-track road from the Rye Farm Car Park to the lock, which Mr Wiblin said could be widened, with a new road built north of the river to Audlett Drive.

He said: "The idea is not to concrete over Britain. This is already a road and it will become a relief road. This links up to Audlett Drive and completes the ring road."

Mr Wiblin wants other companies in Abingdon to form a private funds initiative to get the project off the ground.

Ian Hudspeth, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "We welcome imaginative thinking such as this.

"However, sadly, all parts of the country, and their councils, are bound by Government spending formula restrictions and Government Office for the South East forward planning.

"Very strict criteria need to be met to gain access to the limited amounts of funding that are made available."

A proposal for a bridge south of Abingdon was considered by the South East England Regional Assembly last year, but it was decided it was highly unlikely to get funding.