PLANS to permanently close the central reservation at an accident blackspot moved a step closer last week.

More than 100 Lostock Green residents turned out to a public meeting in the village chapel to put forward their views on the A556 Birches Lane gap - where two people were tragically killed in a road accident three years ago.

The meeting was organised by the parish council following repeated protests from a small group of residents, who have campaigned for the gap to be reopened.

But after listening to the expert opinions of representatives from the police, ambulance service, Cheshire County Council and the Highways Agency, a show of hands revealed that a total of 81 people wanted to see the gap closed permanently - compared to the 31 residents who voted for the only other possible alternative, a right hand turn into Birches Lane.

Sgt Blair Wilson, of the traffic unit at Northwich Police, told residents: "I strongly believe that it should remain closed.

"If we can prevent any loss of life from being taken as a result of the closure then I am 100 per cent behind that and I can live with my conscience."

Those who want to see the gap reopened have expressed concern about the length of time it would take for emergency services to access Birches Lane via the nearby Pennys Lane.

But in a statement read out at the meeting, Cheshire Fire Brigade admitted that although the time had increased by between three to 11 minutes as a result of the closure, it was still well within their recommended response times.

Resident Alan Lloyd told officials: "You have also got to realise that by closing the gap you have cut this community off from the station, the church and the post office."

But Kathleen O'Donnell, who lives in the village, said driving the extra few minutes to get across the road was the only possible solution.

"Reopening it is just a no go area as far as I'm concerned," she added.

David Bogle, spokesman for the Highways Agency, said work on the gap could be completed by the end of the year, after a final decision is authorised by Cheshire County Council's Joint Highways Committee.