WYRE Piddle residents will have an anxious wait to hear whether a section of Main Road will be closed to traffic other than cyclists and buses.

In her closing statement at the public inquiry on Thursday, Worcestershire County Council solicitor Debbie Wilson said the proposal to close the street to all traffic except buses and cyclists was supported by the Government during the development of the bypass.

Ms Wilson said the inquiry had already heard how half of the objections received about the proposals could be resolved by also allowing pedestrians, emergency vehicles and vehicles over 16.5metres in length, which have prior permission, to use the road.

She added that appropriate signing, including those directing traffic to local facilities like the petrol station, had been approved in principle by the Department for Transport.

Ms Wilson said the closure of Main Road would have no impact on traffic at the Pinvin crossroads and Station Road and would benefit Wyre Piddle residents through reduced noise and air pollution and increased road safety.

"Implementing the proposal would also enhance pedestrian and cycle linkages across and along the former A4538, both within Wyre Piddle and to and from Upper Moor," she added.

Ms Wilson summarised how traffic calming measures like road humps would only disrupt residents and would not reduce traffic to 1,200 vehicles a day and any HGV restriction would only cut traffic by 400 vehicles a day.

She said the closure of 270 metres of Main Road from the east, including the railway bridge, would not split Wyre Piddle from its nearby parishes.

Planning inspector Christopher Tipping will consider the evidence and present his findings in the coming months.