Lessons learned from drivers' reactions to the Middleborough roundabout scheme in Colchester will be used in a bid to make sure residents get the message about future projects.

Members of Colchester Council will hear how the scheme has been received since its introduction at the beginning of December when it meets on Wednesday.

In a report by the portfolio holder for environment and transport, Christopher Arnold said it was a "concern" that, despite what it viewed to be considerable coverage about the changes to the layout, visitors still remained unaware.

He says the main congestion was caused by drivers trying to use Middleborough North to access the town centre from the Balkerne Hill roundabout, which in turn caused long queues in North Station Road.

But tempers have frayed as drivers claim they are confused by the new scheme. Yesterday, shoppers trying to park close to the sales were ignoring the bus lane to queue for the NCP Nunns Road car park.

"Valuable information gained through the observation of how drivers reacted to the fine tuning of signage will be fed into the study already under way within the environmental services directorate of how the process of 'getting the message across' can be made more effective," said Mr Arnold in his report.

He said initial "teething problems", which left the traffic lights at the roundabout out of action for most of the first week, had now been sorted out.

The effectiveness of introducing the new protected left turn from Colne Bank Avenue on to Westway, in a bid to encourage drivers to reach the town centre via Cowdray Avenue and Colne Bank Avenue, as well as North Station Road, was also being carefully monitored.

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