MAJOR roadworks to ease traffic pressure on Ledbury roads have been labelled 'pointless and highly damaging.'

Ledbury commuters have hit out at roadworks at the junction connecting Hereford Road with Bromyard Road and Homend.

Disgruntled residents have called for Bloor Homes, which is carrying out the work, to 'strongly reconsider' the 'ridiculous' proposal to place permanent three-way traffic lights at the junction. 

But the housing firm said the works will improve traffic on the roads and assured people it would be minimising disruption as far as is possible. 

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These works are intended to handle all the additional vehicle movements created by the Bromyard Road access to 'The Arches', Bloor Homes' 625 home housing development. 

Alongside the traffic lights, a controlled pedestrian crossing is set to be installed. 

Residents took to the Voice of Ledbury Facebook page to air their grievances with the works, which began last month. 

One said he really felt for frustrated drivers who he saw were forced to sit in a queue for ages heading all the way past the Tesco traffic lights. 

He also claimed buses are being put behind schedule and feels time and fuel are being wasted for a change which will 'create more problems' than it solves. 

Another described the work as 'disgusting' while calling for Bloor Homes to reconsider its plans to install the traffic lights.

A spokesperson from Bloor Homes said: “The highway works being undertaken are an integral, essential element of our new development at The Arches and are part of a package of physical improvements in the local highway network which are being brought forward early to provide advance mitigation for future traffic generated by the new homes.

“The works have been designed and timed in close liaison with Herefordshire Council as the highway authority and have full technical approval. 

"When completed, they will deliver new surfaced and lit foot and cycle path links between The Arches and the services and facilities of the town centre and the junction will be signalised and incorporate a new, dedicated left turn lane into Bromyard Road from Hereford Road. 

"Pedestrian safety at this junction will be further improved by the delivery of a controlled pedestrian crossing to and from the Train Station with onward foot path linkage to the Town Trail."

The works are set to be completed next month.