CONCERNS about extra travelling time, fuel costs and inconvenience are trivial compared to the benefits of a proposed A491 safety scheme, it has been claimed.

Worcestershire Highways Partnership in Bromsgrove manager Jon Fraser said the latest accident, near a crossover point, was similar to many which had occurred in the past.

The partnership's £100,000 scheme would close off the central reservation gaps, except Hartle Lane, where the carriageway would be narrowed to a single lane and the speed limit reduced.

Mr Fraser said: "There have been a number of objections to the scheme, largely on the grounds of extra time, fuel costs and the inconvenience which motorists would incur if they had to travel from one end of the dual carriageway to the other.

"But when weighed against the tragic consequences of the accident last week I believe these concerns are negligible."

He said the partnership had tried to overcome the opposition by proposing amendments to allow limited manoeuvres at some junctions but these had also been rejected.

He added that he understood the call for roundabouts.

Mr Fraser said: "We have never ruled out the provision of roundabouts but by their nature they are complicated to design, expensive, and time-consuming to construct.

"I am happy to continue the discussion regarding roundabouts but in the meantime I believe it is essential the proposed gap closure scheme should go ahead."