Traffic lights and workmen have been in evidence along Coten End this week, with drivers caught in tailbacks and diversions.

And the county council admits it had intended to carry out the work during the summer holiday.

The timing has infuriated Tony Lovett, the managing director of telecommunications firm Suncomms, which is based in Coten End.

He said: "I find it incredulous that all this money is spent on traffic surveys only for no-one to look at the best time to do the roadworks.

"Warwick will be gridlocked for the next six weeks - my advice is to stay away, and certainly do not drive through the town's busiest junction. As for taking your kids to school, a bit of home tutoring may be in order."

Sales manager David Evison explained that access to Bartlett Close has been restricted because of temporary lights in place.

He said that turning right into the road would block traffic entirely and that drivers have to travel 400 yards away from the entrance and turn back in to heavy traffic to enter the street.

He added: "Residents will be affected in the same way - there's no doubt about that."

A county council spokesman stated the work had originally been planned to start in July, but that this proved impossible.

He said: "While it would have been ideal to commence these works at the start of the summer break, a combination of resources, works programming and total volume of schemes meant we were unable to achieve this.

"The six-week duration needs to be kept in context with the restrictions applied to a scheme of this type in a busy urban environment.

"During the day the agreed working duration on site is restricted from 9.30am to 4pm, thereby avoiding the busiest traffic hours and reducing delays to commuting traffic. Every effort where possible will be made to reduce the impact of the works at this busy junction."
l What do you think about the timing of these roadworks?
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