DEVIZES traders and local councillors are angrily demanding an apology from Wessex Water after the town was gridlocked because of temporary traffic lights last Wednesday and Thursday.

Motorists reported taking nearly an hour to travel distances of a few hundred yards after traffic lights were set up on London Road where a new water main is being laid to supply the planned new housing in the area.

Bruce Hopkins, managing director of Devizes Fine Kitchens, said it had taken him 56 minutes to travel the half-mile between the company's showroom in Northgate Street and the factory on Hopton Industrial Estate last Wednesday lunchtime.

He said: "I set out at midday but didn't get to the factory until two minutes to one. It was very frustrating. You saw a line of cars coming the opposite way, then a break when there was nothing, and then another line of cars came through. Everyone was going mad.

"I know they have to do these things, but they should organise it better."

Town councillor Noel Woolrych was another who was caught out by the congestion, which was made worse by another set of Wessex Water traffic lights on the Green. He said it had taken him nearly an hour to get from his office in Bath Road to his home in Meadow Drive.

He said: "You would have thought that, as soon as this situation became apparent, Wessex Water would have done something about it.

"It was only when they were

contacted by the police that they paid any attention. That shouldn't happen.

"There were reports on national radio that Devizes was a place to be avoided. What kind of message is that to put out about a town that is trying to stimulate its retail area?"

Alex Duffey, chairman of the Kennet branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, was also concerned about people being told to avoid the town.

He said: "Once Wessex Water had sorted itself out on Thursday afternoon, the place was like a ghost town. The central and west central car parks, which are normally full to capacity for most of the Thursday market day, were half empty.

"This has been a disaster for the town."

A spokesman for Wessex Water said the traffic lights in London Road had been altered from four-way working at the junction with Hambleton Avenue and Hopton Road to two-way working.

This seemed to have improved the traffic chaos situation.

He said: "There were teething problems on Wednesday and Thursday but the system is now more effective.

"We have people working in the area to monitor the situation and they can alter the traffic light settings if that becomes necessary."

A spokesman for Wiltshire County Council confirmed that they had received 80 calls of complaint last Wednesday from motorists caught in the congestion.

He said: "We have to work with utility companies when they need access to underground cables and pipes.

"They've got to do the work and we can't prevent it. The situation has now eased."

Other motorists spoke of taking 45 minutes to get from the bottom of Caen Hill, at the opposite end of town from the roadworks, into the centre of Devizes.

Some motorists decided to come off the A361 and cut through Bishops Cannings, Coate and Etchilhampton.

Other motorists are driving through Calne and on to Beckhampton.

Tony Adamson, chairman of Bishops Cannings parish council, said: "Increased traffic is coming through the area, particularly through Coate, to avoid the works on London Road.

"Villagers recognise that the water pipes have to be replaced and are prepared to put up with increased traffic while that is being done.

"But they are deeply concerned that cars are coming through too fast.

"We know the roads round here and know where you have to slow down because it gets narrow just round the bend.

"There are no footpaths and children are in danger if traffic is going too fast.

"These are public roads so we can't stop people using them, but we are appealing to drivers to watch their speed, even if they are in a hurry."