Traffic jams 'easing' amid chaos claims

A highways team has been trying to ease congestion around Brixham in south Devon following complaints about roadworks adding hours on to journeys.

Businessman Ian Nuttall said a round-trip from Brixham to Newton Abbot had taken more than five hours when it would normally take an hour, while mum Gail Parker said a 10-minute school drop-off now took 50 minutes.

The congestion has been caused by roadworks that started on Monday near a housing estate at Churston. They are due to continue until 16 December.

Torbay Council said it had been working with the contractor and police to ease traffic jams and there had been a "positive effect".

Mr Nuttall told BBC Radio Devon the works had caused a "massive bottleneck" and the back lanes were "in chaos".

"For anyone trying to run a business, without a doubt they are going to suffer," he added.

Chris Hodson, landlord of the Manor Inn, Brixham, said the effect on business had been "quite substantial" with cancellations from people facing huge delays.

"It's been absolute chaos, several tables have been cancelled," he said.

Ms Parker from Stoke Gabriel said journeys had been "incredibly stressful".

"The back lanes are being used as rat-runs, it's causing chaos," she said. "It's astonishing knowing this could last to Christmas, it gives me fear of dread."

Torbay Council said "further changes" had been made to the temporary lights and signs "to improve the flows".

"This seems to be having a positive effect," it said.

The temporary lights were staffed from 07:30 to 18:30 BST Monday to Friday "to monitor traffic flows and make changes as needed", it said.

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