Essential work added to planned road works during quieter school summer holiday period the cause of 'additional delays' in Bishop's Stortford town centre

A series of road works in Bishop's Stortford town centre, planned to take place through the quieter summer holiday period, were exacerbated by emergency works which caused additional delays.

Herts county councillor Graham McAndrew responded to criticism from residents over works at most entry points to the town which caused traffic gridlock at busy times.

Cllr McAndrew, who is HCC's deputy executive member for highways, told the Indie more schemes were planned than usual through the school summer holidays, but other urgent works cropped up.

"Unfortunately the network has been subject to several emergency works which have resulted in additional delays which we are working to manage," he said. "Bishop's Stortford continues to be one of our busiest towns and is subject to various improvement schemes and development works."

The delays caused by the works were slammed by residents. David Wilson wrote to Hertford and Stortford MP Julie Marson asking her to look into the matter.

Mr Wilson highlighted traffic signals in Beldams Lane, Rye Street, Hadham Road, along with four-way temporary signals at the busy Hockerill junction and temporary lights at the junction of South Street and Station Road. He also mentioned the M11 access road closure at the roundabout at the top of Dunmow Road.

He slammed the "ludicrous situation", adding: "There is no way to avoid the temporary traffic lights - all major routes have them, which is gridlocking the town."

The temporary signals at Hockerill are gone, but Beldams Lane is due to close and there are works in Hadham Road at the junction with North Street.

There will also be temporary traffic signals along the A120 near the Homebase roundabout overnight from Tuesday (August 30) for essential bridge maintenance work.