A HATCHED-box junction has been installed near Warndon Villages to ease traffic congestion.

City and county councillor Andy Roberts said residents from other areas have also now asked for the same but “unless safety is a factor it’s not an easy arrangement to make”.

The new markings were painted last week in Tolladine Road between the junctions with Wharfedale Drive and Ambleside Drive to address traffic problems.

Cllr Roberts said: “Residents of Wharfedale etcetera asked for the box junction and I’m pleased it’s been done.

“For clarification: I was only able to get it because the traffic turning right into Ambleside backed up across Wharfedale.”

Cars were building up outside Ambleside Veterinary Clinic with the the two junctions, going in opposite directions, very close together.

Cllr Roberts said he had approached the county council’s highways department around six months ago after being told about the issue by residents.

“We had problems, traffic was backing up so there were no gaps at all. We have had that junction box put there to try and resolve it. I have had to explain the reason we can have one there is the traffic back up. [He told residents] You can’t have a box junction at every junction to make it easy – you have to wait your turn.

“The reason we managed to get that there wasn’t because people couldn’t get out of the road, we couldn’t have done that,” he continued. “The reason was because the junction further on meant the traffic backed up, that’s when you can get a box junction.

“I’m keen for people to know that so that nobody else says: ‘can we have one too?’”

County highways cabinet member, Councillor Alan Amos, said the markings are “to improve access to Wharfedale Drive and ease congestion in the wider area”.