The jury is still out on the new traffic system at Middleborough.

The first vehicles tested out the route yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and today sees the first full day for commuters and shoppers as they get used to the changes.

Traffic wardens were out warning drivers not to go through the bus route from the bottom of Middleborough towards North Hill - but as soon as they left after the rush hour, motorists resorted to driving up this route.

One of the scheme's strongest critics Ray Goodwin from sandwich shop La Baguette has not been converted.

"I think the whole thing's pathetic. I had a girl come in and tell me it took 40 minutes to get from the sports centre to here at Middleborough."

Rosalind Tovell of Tovell Collins on North Hill said her 17-mile journey into Colchester took her an hour instead of the usual 30 to 40 minutes.

"I just think the whole thing is chaotic. Colchester used to be brilliant and in the last couple of years they seem to have lost direction."

Fred Lawrance who works at St Peter's Court travels in by bus and said he faced delays, but that was usual in the morning. He said his colleagues had not had trouble getting out of St Peter's Court last night.

Motorist Louise Mulvey who works in Middleborough said: "I can't see it's made any difference. I have seen a couple of near misses coming out of Sheepen Place and turning on to the roundabout."

Managing partner of Goodys solicitors on St Peter's Street Bryan Johnston said:"It must be an improvement on the other arrangements.

"Sometimes it has been difficult getting out with the road works."

Staff at Goody's drive out of their parking area on St Peter's Court onto Middleborough. Mr Johnston added he wanted to see direction signs warning about the changes put up by the Albert on Cowdray Avenue.

Colchester Council engineer Paul Bradford, who has been keeping an eye on traffic in Middleborough, said: "It will be a case of getting drivers used to the new arrangements.

"We have put more information signs up so people do get used to the new signs. There is some driver hesitation."

Guidance will also be available for motorists coming in to Colchester tomorrow (Saturday) to do their Christmas shopping.

Mr Bradford added there will be work to create a dedicated slip route from Colne Bank Avenue onto Westway. And he said direction traffic signs will be changed at the Albert roundabout.

By Julia Gregory

Reporter's e-mail: julia_gregory@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.