FRUSTRATED drivers said it was an "absolute joke" temporary traffic lights were left in place on a busy road despite no roadworks.

Long queues of traffic built up along Bilford Road over the weekend caused by the temporary lights on the canal bridge near Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

Worcestershire Highways has revealed the temporary traffic lights were intentionally kept in place despite Cadent Gas not carrying out any further work.

Roadworks had taken place to fix a gas leak but the lights, safety barriers and cones had remained after the work had finished.

There were reports of up to 100 cars stuck in the traffic at one point with a frustrated resident calling it an "absolute joke".

Resident Anna Wallace was stuck at Wordsworth Avenue trying to turn right into traffic that had built up along the main road on Sunday afternoon.

She said: "We were sat for ten minutes queuing to get off the Blanquettes estate.

"What an absolute joke, there was no work being done on the bridge but still there are traffic lights.

"I’d say they have got to have been there for at least a month.

"The stupid thing is that there aren’t even any holes in the road now.

"It is just still coned off with lights.

"It’s been a nightmare being a resident and with school runs in the morning."

The temporary traffic lights were removed from the bridge at 8pm last night (Sunday).

A spokesman for Worcestershire Highways explained it had to allow the area to ventilate before removing the traffic lights and cones.

"Unfortunately there are always long periods of inactivity with gas works.

 

"They attend, if there is gas they seek a highest reading and fix it.

"They then have to leave the site and allow it to vent before returning - there have been multiple leaks at this site."

The works by Cadent Gas had been programmed until Tuesday, January 25 but ran into complications.

They were further extended until Friday (February 4) and then extended again until today (Monday).

A Cadent Gas spokesman said: "You may know that Cadent manages the local underground gas network – which amounts to many tens of thousands of miles of pipes under your feet.

"Our teams responded to a report of a smell of gas in the area and traced it to this section of pipe under Bilford Road. Work was completed quickly to make everything safe.

"It was made safe but further repair work was needed, the team was called to respond another urgent gas escape elsewhere in the region. We had to give priority to that.

"So, we apologise that this created an inconvenience locally but hope people understand our absolute priority is keeping everyone safe.

"The remaining repair work in Bilford Road was completed over the weekend and our teams have since left site, with the road reopened fully."