Drivers’ fury over ‘appalling’ delays due to Hayling roadworks

Councillor Andy Lenaghan, who represents the island on Havant Borough Council, has hit out at Southern Gas Networks (SGN), saying the way it has been dealt with is ‘appalling’.

Since Tuesday, drivers have been forced to wait up to an hour in long queues caused by work to repair gas pipes in Havant Road, close to the Esso petrol station.

Part of the road was closed and temporary traffic lights put in place.

There have been complaints that workers have not been seen at the site.

But a spokeswoman for SGN said workmen had been at the site and the work is now finished – but traffic lights are still in place.

Cllr Lenaghan said: ‘I needed to go to Queen Alexandra Hospital twice on Tuesday and into Havant on Wednesday.

‘The traffic management was absolutely disastrous.

‘There were queues going back for miles. There was no-one even there doing any work.

‘The work only extended 18 inches into the road so two cars could have got through easily but weren’t allowed.

‘It showed a total disregard for Hayling residents.

‘I had to wait 40 minutes in the middle of the day and commuters had to wait even longer during rush hour. Why wasn’t this planned properly?

‘It was chaos and there was an accident where people were trying to rush through the lights.’

And commenting on the Hayling Island Facebook page, Simon Silver said: ‘The hole is small enough for both lanes to open.

‘They don’t realise traffic is back to Mill Rythe and people are missing trains, hospital appointments and the poor taxis are stuck both ways losing money.’

SGN spokeswoman Chloe Boyce apologised for the delays and said the work should be finished by today and the road should be back to normal.

She said the resurfacing work meant the road had to set before the lights could be taken away.

Miss Boyce added: ‘We have been carrying out emergency work in Havant Road.

‘We’re aware that the temporary traffic lights, which are necessary to ensure the safety of the public, have caused delays getting on and off Hayling Island since last night.

‘We’d like to apologise for the disruption this caused.’