PLANS to build a fourth crossing over the River Trent have been labelled "environmentally catastrophic".
Groups opposing the idea favour a tram-train system over an existing rail crossing between Netherfield and Radcliffe-on-Trent.
Gedling Borough Council commissioned a feasibility study into the potential for a fourth crossing, which leader John Clarke says will boost business and reduce congestion.
Advanced studies into the crossing between Colwick Industrial Estate and Holme Pierrepont have since been made a priority on Local Enterprise Partnership D2N2's Strategic Economic Plan.
David Thornhill, of the Nottinghamshire Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Anybody promoting another road bridge is, in essence, still living in the 1950s and 60s. It's an environmentally catastrophic scheme.
"They have totally failed to understand issues of pollution and climate change. We need environmentally sustainable solutions and a fourth road crossing is the complete opposite."
Mr Thornhill, of Radcliffe-on-Trent, says modern tram-train hybrids running over the existing rail crossing between Netherfield and Radcliffe-on-Trent could be the solution to traffic chaos on Lady Bay and Trent Bridge.
"We already have the fourth Trent crossing," he said. "There's a great potential for tram-trains and providing more road space is only going to encourage more people to use cars.
"The technology already exists and if you provide a completely green and sustainable attitude to transport to get people out of their cars, you would free up road space for businesses' lorries."
Bettina Lange, secretary of the Nottinghamshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, has seen these tram-trains for herself, in Kassel, Germany.
"These vehicles can travel on existing rail lines and also on modern tram lines. The technology is there, the rail line is there and they are built locally by Bombardier, which has a factory in Derby."
Ms Lange said she would like to see a sustainable travel infrastructure built in anticipation of large housing developments tabled for Rushcliffe.
"There are many areas in Nottinghamshire that are currently small villages but have big expansion plans and there's no transport infrastructure," she said.
"The introduction of tram-trains before the housing would be anticipating the rise and people moving to the area would be those happy to use the trams.
"There is research into bypasses which shows that five years later the traffic is just as bad. A fourth road crossing wouldn't stop people from driving into the city centre, but just give them another option.
"People who want to move to houses in those areas will want to because of the natural beauty of the landscape, which would be ruined by another bridge."
John Clarke, leader of Gedling Borough Council, said he was pleased the potential for a new bridge was generating debate at this early stage.
"These groups are important and we want to hear their ideas and take them on board," he said.
"We're not ruling out the potential for a tram line to go across the bridge as well but we need to shift the traffic that is log-jamming the city centre so we are no doubt planning a road bridge.
"The advanced feasibility study we are hoping to do should answer all the environmental questions that will be raised and we want to listen to that advice."
The Environment Agency said it has not yet been formally contacted but would expect to be consulted in any advanced feasibility study.
What do you think about the prospect of a fourth road crossing over the River Trent? Tell us your views at www.nottinghampost.com.
