AS noted in last week’s Evesham Journal, the roadworks on Abbey Road for the installation of a new gas main have caused immense disruption.

On one occasion, when the by-pass was blocked following an accident, the queue stretched north on the A4184 to the Twyford roundabout, well in excess of a mile-and-a-half from the roadworks.

This begs the perennial question — why does traffic, particularly southbound traffic, build up in the centre of Evesham?

In this particular case, southbound traffic was backing up because of incoming traffic from Swan Lane, most of which had come into the town via Workman Bridge.

READ MORE: 'The town remains in gridlock causing disruption and inconvenience to many residents'

Of course there have been reports in the past — one, as I recall, costing a ridiculous sum of money to state the obvious.

There are three road bridges providing principal access to Evesham — Workman Bridge, Abbey Bridge and the Railway Bridge, four if we count the Briar Close railway bridge but access to that is limited.

Any student of GCSE physics knows that if you keep pouring water into a container from three sources but allow it to flow out at a rate of only two it will overflow.

Yet the highways department refuses to allow Mill Street (with a 20mph speed limit and a little modification) to become two-way, except during the Mop Fair, effectively closing off Workman Bridge from outgoing traffic.

So the people of Evesham suffer from traffic jams, vehicle pollution and all that follows.

Perhaps this relatively one-party state needs a few local councillors brave enough to break ranks on this issue?

Robert Paterson

Evesham

What do you think? Write to letters@eveshamjournal.co.uk.