Calls for Dorchester temporary traffic lights to be better managed
There's been long queues caused by gas works on Queen's Avenue
There are calls for some temporary traffic lights set up in Dorchester to be switched off when work's not taking place there.
The roadworks have sprung up on the junction of Queen's Avenue and Clarence Road, close to the entrance for Thomas Hardye School.
They've been set up by gas suppliers SGN, who are carrying out what's described as emergency works.
But there's been criticism that the lights have remained in place, even when contractors aren't on site.
Dorset Councillor says the four-way lights left local people fuming, with drives blocked by waiting cars and motorists and cyclists having to stop when no work at all was taking place.
Speaking before the main works got underway earlier this week, he said:
“Why on earth do they install traffic lights days/weeks before any work starts? That is simply wrong and unacceptable for members of the community; feelings are now running high in this area and that’s before any work has begun."
A spokesperson for Dorset Council said the traffic lights were installed for a planned start date of August 18th, but engineers were then called to a more urgent incident, so they started work on Monday (22nd August). They said:
“We appreciate the disruption that these works are causing, however are keen to get this gas leak resolved during the school holidays."
SGN do have a condition on their traffic control permit that states that should manually operate the traffic lights at peak times, to ease congestion, and they've been asked to make sure the work's completed by the start of the school term.
The lights are expected to be in place until Friday 2nd September.