TRADERS and residents have said the traffic chaos has eased since the start of the works.

They have also welcomed the suggestion of extending working hours which came from Dorset County Council’s director for environment Miles Butler.

John Pearce, owner of Alf’s Fish and Chips at Fiveways, said he would prefer the roadworks to be extended if it meant they would be finished sooner.

He said: “The sooner they get them done the better.

“If it means they can get it done quicker by extending working hours, then that’s good. Once they’re done, they’re done.”

He added: “The traffic has sorted itself out now thanks to the Echo.

“The traffic lights in Lynch Road are back to normal after the stories in the Echo put pressure on the council to change them back.”

Paul Smith, the manager of the Old Rooms Inn in Hope Square, said he didn’t think extending the working hours would make a difference to traffic.

He said: “It’s irrespective of whether they’re working longer hours, the road layouts are still the same whether they’re working or not.”

Mr Smith added that traffic has eased in Hope Square which will continue to be two-way during the works.

He said: “Traffic is a bit better than in the first few days.

“I think drivers learned their lesson and started taking alternative routes.”

Lynch Road resident Mark Benham agreed the situation in his road was also a lot better.

He had previously complained that drivers were ignoring ‘No Entry Access Only’ signs relating to his road to help prevent it becoming a rat-run.

He said: “I think people read the Echo and started paying attention to the road signs.”