'Total confusion' as drivers ignore no-entry signs

A taxi driver claims motorists have been left in a state of "total confusion" because of roadworks, with some disobeying no-entry signs.

The temporary traffic restrictions on London Road in Gloucester have been updated to complete the £40m cycle spine works between Alvin Street and the railway bridge.

Hussain Vorajee, of Adelaide Cars, said drivers are still entering the recently extended one-way system on London Road, which now covers the junction with Great Western Road, and added it will "keep happening until there's a major accident".

Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainable transport and road safety, said Gloucestershire County Council is monitoring traffic "closely".

Vorajee said he filmed a driver going past the no entry sign on 7 October, two days after the one-way system was extended, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He accused Gloucestershire Highways of leaving drivers in "total confusion", and said the the signs are unclear.

"How are we going to sort this out?" he said. "It says no entry but hundreds of cars are still going through.

"We've already got so many issues around Gloucester, especially around the A40 which is causing hours and hours of traffic from around the Forest of Dean into Gloucester."

Raushan Nizamdeen, manager of Nithiya Superstore on London Road, said the supermarket was "covered by fences" when the roadworks began earlier this year.

"Our sales were reduced by 30% for four months, almost," he said.

Now the roadworks on the side of the road the shop is on have completed, business is "gradually picking up", Nizamdeen said, but the one-way system is having a negative impact.

"Most of the customers who are coming from that side of the road, they have to come all the way around through Kingsholm," he added.

Once completed, the cycle spine will be 26-mile (42km) long, linking Bishops Cleeve to Stroud.

Whyborn said "diversion routes and clear signage" were in place to support road users, and the current phase of the cycle spine is on track for completion in December.

"While we recognise there has been some disruption, this approach was chosen as the least impactful option, helping to minimise impacts on emergency vehicle access to and from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital," he said.

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