Calls for urgent action to prevent more traffic chaos at Serpentine Green as roadworks continue

There have been calls for urgent action to prevent the traffic chaos outside Peterborough's Serpentine Green from happening again – after drivers were stuck for more than two hours in queues at the shopping centre.

Cambridgeshire Police were forced to put out a warning to motorists on Friday afternoon as queues snaked through the carpark as a result of a new roadworks scheme on The Serpentine at the exit of the centre.

The scheme, which is set to last until March, has closed off one lane of the road on the approach to the Fletton Parkway/Nene Parkway junction between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

Peterborough City Council, which is running the roadworks scheme, have said some alterations have now been made in a bid to cut the queues this week.

Today, North West Cambridgeshire MP Shailesh Vara said: “This is unacceptable. Those responsible for the pre-planning have clearly got this wrong and a swift review needs to be undertaken.

"This situation simply cannot continue, and certainly not until the works are completed in March. I am urgently taking this up with the Council and all others concerned.”

Hargate and Hempsted ward councillor John Howard said he was hoping to have talks with others about the situation as soon as possible. He said: “I have requested a meeting at the soonest possible opportunity with fellow Hampton Ward Councillors, the Police, Parish Council, our Cabinet member and the highway contractors to discuss a way forwards.

“I hope everyone will work together to reduce the levels of congestion that have been experienced.”

On Friday, Peterborough City Council said: “We are aware of the issues at Serpentine Green today and are in discussions with our partners with a view to resolving this."

Today, the spokesperson added: “A spokesperson for PCC said: "We are monitoring the queues and will continue to do so over this week to ensure that there isn’t a repeat of last Friday. We have made some alterations to the signing on site and hopefully this will assist."