Driver shines a light on issues over signals on two of borough's busiest roundabouts

Driver Ian Warrick believes the £7.5million scheme to overhaul the roads around the Lindisfarne and John Reid Road roundabouts in Jarrow could have been saved if traffic bosses had simply reset the timings of the signals or turned them off altogether.

The lights at the end of John Reid Road have been off about a fortnight, with no queues building up.

Mr Warrick, who has lived in Barnard Grove, Low Simonside, for almost three years, believes it is proof the work is not required.

The 55-year-old technical support engineer, who is married to Elizabeth, 54, said he had raised the idea with the council.

The father-of-one believes the council have used traffic information from before the second Tyne Tunnel opened when they mapped out their plans.

He added: “I’ve been driving for nearly 40 years, I’m not qualified, apart from having common sense and experience.

“For the last two weeks the lights have been off and the traffic queues have and the roadworks haven’t made any difference.

“I would like to know where the council has got its data from.

“Leaving the estate now, by and large, is nothing, but when the lights are on it’s a problem.”

The ongoing works, which began in July and are set to last a year, will include the widening of the roundabouts to three lanes.

A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: “As part of the planning process we appointed specialist infrastructure consultants who carried out extensive transport studies.

“Various options were modelled, using current journey time data which also considered ongoing and future potential development which could impact on the transport system.

“The traffic lights at John Reid roundabout are in place to allow all traffic to safely enter and leave the roundabout.”

More details about the project can be found via www.southtyneside.gov.uk.