OBJECTORS to road closure at Wyre Piddle when the new bypass is opened are expected to oppose the traffic orders, according to county councillor Liz Tucker.

She said last week after a cabinet meeting, which voted almost unanimously for closure, that although the battle to keep the village open with traffic calming and HGV restrictions was lost, a new fight for a compromise scheme had begun.

She said: "I will be doing all I can to keep the eastern side open to buses and emergency services. In this new cabinet-style local government only eight people had the power to vote - I want to try to bring the matter to the scrutiny committee because I think the consequences have not been properly thought out."

What many villagers fear, apart from the loss of a bus service, is that the small businesses in and to the east of Wyre Piddle will become un-viable.

The demise of Wyre Piddle Filling station and shop is a foregone conclusion, said owner Richard Eccles. He said: "We are situated between the bridge and the bypass in no man's land. There is no way we can survive. Sadly my staff of 12 will lose their jobs." Mr Eccles said he would be appealing for compensation to either the county council or the government.

Hilary Green, licensee of the Anchor Inn in the centre of Fladbury, said: "My business will seriously suffer from the lack of passing trade. It was bad enough during the foot-and-mouth crisis."

The postmaster at Lower Moor, Jerry Marshall, said: "Many elderly people from Wyre use my post office now but I feel they won't for long if they have to make a huge detour all around the bypass. I feel my business is now under threat."

At the cabinet meeting last Thursday, chairman Alwyn Davies gave the main reason for the decision for total closure as the way to maximise the effect of the new bypass.

He added: "Whatever our decision we are going to upset some people."

Before voting for the closure, however, head of transportation and highways Jeff Romanis agreed to a request to investigate the possibility of compromise to allow buses and emergency vehicles to continue to enter the village from the eastern end.

He said: "I am hoping we can try to solve the buses problem because it is county council policy to promote public transport.

"I will also be contacting the emergency services for their views."

Traffic orders are due to be published within weeks, when the public will have six weeks in which to object.