THE future of the A491 is now in the hands of a government inspector who heard both sides of the story from safety campaigners and traffic bosses during a public inquiry.

After more than two years of controversy and arguments a final decision is fast-approaching on the Worcestershire Highways Partnership in Bromsgrove's £100,000 scheme to close off crossover points along the busy dual carriage.

The stretch of road between the Fairfield and Hagley roundabouts is known as "coroner's corridor" by the police and carries approximately 24,000 vehicles a day, according to evidence presented at the Council House, in Burcot Lane, last Wednesday.

Between January 1 1996 and April 26 2001 there have been seven deaths, 21 serious and 72 slight injury accidents -- the majority of which involve crossover manoeuvres.

A £950,000 scheme for two roundabouts near the Clent and Belbroughton junctions was first proposed in 1989 and it was approved for inclusion in Worcestershire County Council's capital programme but was never formally submitted.

In his evidence Jon Fraser told the inquiry the scheme would now cost approximately £1.9m.

The latest proposal, which will close off the central reservation gaps, except Hartle Lane where the carriageway would be narrowed to a single lane and the speed limit reduced, was first presented to Belbroughton, Clent and Hagley parish councils, who gave it their backing, in early 1999.

But concerned residents claimed the scheme was a waste of money and formed the A491 -- What Price Lives? committee to oppose the plan.

Instead they called for roundabouts at the Belbroughton and Hagley junctions.

Work began in March 2000 when hundreds of traffic cones were laid out and new traffic signals installed.

It ground to a halt days later when it was realised the planned closures had not been advertised.

During a public consultation 42 objections were received.

In November 2000, in a bid to get the scheme under way without delay, an amendment was put forward allowing some turning manoeuvres including turning right into Gorse Green Lane and Dark Lane -- only six people withdrew their objections. A public inquiry was then called.