A TRANSPORT chief is calling for all the traffic lights in his town to be ripped out and replaced with roundabouts.

He questioned the effectiveness of installing traffic lights on roundabouts as Weymouth prepares to do just that.

Traffic signals will replace five roundabouts in the town as part of the Weymouth Transport Package that aims to improve traffic flow.

Work has already started on the Westham and Harbour roundabouts in preparation for the 2012 Olympic games.

Road works at Boot Hill will begin next month and work on the mini-roundabout on the Esplanade and King Street is due to start at the end of the year.

This comes as Reading Borough Council has been given the green light to conduct a review of every traffic light junction across the town with a view to take out as many as possible.

The council’s strategic planning and transport spokesman Councillor Richard Willis, said that he believes that roundabouts were more effective in improving traffic flow than lights.

Coun Richard Willis said: “The problem in Reading is that a number of junctions have gained traffic lights over the years on an ad hoc basis. They haven’t looked at how the roads with lights will effect one another.

“Where possible, we are looking to remove these traffic lights and replace them with roundabouts.

“Sometimes when you have an overwhelming traffic flow from one direction you do need to control that with lights but my personal view is that roundabouts work better than traffic lights.”

He added: “Some local councils think that traffic lights are the only safety traffic solution but there are some junctions in Reading where the safety record has been worse with lights.”

Andy Ackerman, Dorset County Council’s head of highways, said that the implementation of traffic lights was ‘right for the town’.

He said: “I can’t comment on Reading Borough Council’s transport policy as I do not know what transport issues the town has to address.

“The lights currently being installed in Weymouth town centre are right for the town’s traffic demands and have a design life of 20 years.

“Not only will the junctions control the flow of traffic but they will help public transport by prioritising buses through the junction and they also provide a safer pedestrian environment.”

Residents and visitors can find out more about the works by visiting dorsetforyou.com/weymouth transportpackage or have their questions answered in person at the visitor centre at Swannery Car Park.