MORE than 1,520 angry people have signed a petition to get rid of the traffic lights and barriers on Bradford on Avon's historic Town Bridge following a week of congestion and delays.

They claim the £30,000 of traffic measures to improve social distancing in the town introduced last Thursday are a complete disaster and causing havoc.

Reported delays of up to 45 minutes were not uncommon as long tailbacks affected virtually every main road through the town.

The petition, launched by traffic campaigner nJohn Boyce, says: “They are ruining people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as bringing more pollution into the town centre with hundreds of cars sat in stationary traffic for many hours each day.

“Shops and businesses are suffering. Residents are suffering.Workers can’t get to work. Tourists don’t come.

“There is a serious safety risk as emergency services such as fire appliances and ambulances simply cannot move.”

One unnamed resident said: “It’s a disastrous scheme unleashed on an unsuspecting residents, and with no consultation with the townspeople. It’s ruining daily life and destroying businesses and tourism.”

Signing the petition, Annabelle Sanderson, said: “These traffic lights are appalling. They have caused huge traffic jams when a simple one way system on either side of the bridge would have worked.

“They are damaging businesses and the barriers do nothing for social distancing but look hideous. What a waste of our money.”

Much of the anger is directed towards Bradford Town Council whose partnership with Wiltshire Council led to the one-way traffic scheme being implemented under the guise of measures to improve Covid-19 social distancing.

The council and its main political group, Ideal Bradford, has suffered a barrage of criticism of the trial scheme, which immediately caused massive tailbacks..

On Thursday, national BBC radio urged drivers to avoid the area, while local businesses protested they were suffering a drop in trade.

Mike and Shirley Brigham, owners of Bradford on Avon Taxis, called for civic leaders to resign, saying it was costing their business time and money.

They said they are turning away one in three fares because they can’t promise to transport customers where they want to get it on time.

Mr Brigham said: “It’s absolute madness. I’m having to add £3 to every fare to take people from Avon Mills to Sainsbury’s.

“I can understand the one-way system but the traffic lights on the Town Bridge are causing congestion.”

Many traders said footfall and takings had dropped because people concerned about how long it would take to get into the town centre were shopping elsewhere.

Dean Woodland, 52, owner of Browns Hardware store in Silver Street, said he had lost £200 in takings on the first day, adding: “It is a complete shambles. The traffic lights on the Town Bridge are causing absolute chaos in the town.”

Jackie Allan, at Piha in Lamb Yard, said: “Traffic was queuing just after 7am on Friday and people were still coming down Market Street against the one-way system.”

“I’m not against the one-way system, but if people stop coming into shop, the town will become a ghost town.”

Mo Bennie, 61, who runs Granny Mo’s Deli in Silver Street, said: “I have lost takings because people are not coming into town. I think there will be a few empty shops in the town before too long.”

Paul Brown, 59, who runs a Dream Doors franchise in Silver Street, said he had been unable to take deliveries or load his van after barriers were installed.

“I got closed down during lockdown and that was a bit of a blow but business since we reopened has been really good.

“I have an issue with the barriers for the one-way system because there has been no consultation. It has been really poor.

“We’ve had no contact whatsoever from Wiltshire Council or Bradford on Avon Town Council. I’m now unable to accept deliveries or load up my van for kitchen fittings.

“My customers come from across west Wiltshire, Bath and north Somerset but they won’t want to come to see me with all the delays. It has become a hostile environment.”

Ruth Warren, owner of Doghouse in Lamb Yard, said: “I’m in favour of the one-way system, it’s fantastic, but the traffic lights are a mistake. I think that’s what’s causing all the congestion.”

Frances Inman, who runs two shops, By The Way near the canal, and Cloud & Cove in Silver Street, said: “Both shops are noticeably quieter and takings are down.

“We have had customers coming in today who say they are not going into town. The traffic will have an affect if it stops people shopping.

“We depend on local customers. I have got lots of customers from Winsley but they are not going to walk into town.”