Traffic Lights Causing Delays in North Somerset Village
Villagers in Banwell, North Somerset, are facing traffic hell due to the temporary traffic lights installed on the A371 (Knightcott Road). The lights have been malfunctioning when it rains, causing drivers to frequently get stuck on red lights at both ends of the road.
Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) claims the lights are functioning properly and has adjusted the timings. However, local residents report that the lights go out of sync during rainy weather, allowing only four or five cars to pass before turning red again. This has led to some drivers being stuck on red lights for over an hour.
Steve Voller, the chair of Banwell's parish council, suggests that frustrated drivers driving through red lights may be confusing the sensors further. The company has installed signposts with ITS's phone number, instructing drivers to call in case of traffic light failure. ITS attributes the long wait times to increased traffic due to other road works in the area but denies that wait times have ever reached an hour.
The traffic lights were installed to manage the congestion in Banwell, which has been plagued by terrible traffic since 1754. A £105 million bypass is being built to ease the congestion, and the traffic lights are essential for the safety of workers constructing the road.
Chantelle Fox, a resident who moved to Banwell two years ago, expresses frustration with the roadworks, saying she expected some hassle but not to this extent. Steve Voller, a long-time supporter of the bypass, remains optimistic, hoping for short-term pain for long-term gain.
Galliford Try, the contractors building the bypass, acknowledges previous issues with the lights and has installed new equipment to improve traffic flow. ITS claims that the lights have had no faults and are functioning properly, with no issues reported since the timings were adjusted.
