Objections from businesses, a petition signed by more than 5,700, and pressure from a packed public gallery failed to influence the minds of councillors in Cheltenham.

The local authority's extraordinary meeting to decide whether to call a halt to the closure of the road through what is known local as Boots Corner had to be extended before a decision could be reached.

Which - a bit like the town's new road scheme - is a long way around of saying the controversial decision to keep the road closed to all but buses, taxis and cyclists, remains in place.

Councillors voted against the re-opening of the road - 26 against and nine in favour - and against having a public meeting on the trial closure, 23 against and nine for, with one abstention.