AN expensive road improvement scheme at one of the conurbation's busiest roundabouts has made traffic congestion worse, motorists have claimed.

Drivers say they are avoiding the Mountbatten Arms roundabout and using residential roads instead following the installation of traffic lights at every approach.

As well as the new traffic lights, the three-month improvement scheme also saw roads widened, new lane markings on the roundabout and the creation of footways and cycleways.

But motorists say that whereas previous problems were confined to rush hour, the new traffic lights bring cars to a standstill at all times of the day and night.

One Bournemouth taxi driver of 23 years, who did not wish to be named, said he now went out of his way to avoid the roundabout.

"It creates queues that were never there before," he said. "I hate the junction now and every cabbie in the town will tell you the same thing. You come up to the roundabout at 1am in the morning when there's no other cars around and still get stuck at the traffic lights."

Amy Harris, who lives in Wallisdown and uses the roundabout frequently, said: "You get to one set of traffic lights, wait a while, drive for another couple of yards to get to another and wait again. It takes forever to get round the roundabout."

And Christian Stompedissel, who works at Space Maker in Wallisdown Road, said: "The lights just don't seem co-ordinated, the green light literally lasts for a few seconds.

"It seems to have improved things coming from Ferndown but in the other direction, the queues can go back to Tower Park."

Steve Tite, transportation manager at the Borough of Poole, said the severe delays seen in the last few days were a result of recent technical problems with the traffic lights, which have now been repaired.

And Cllr Ron Parker, cabinet portfolio holder for the local economy, said: "In situations like this it is never possible to please everybody all the time but we have had some very positive feedback."

First published: August 13