Urgent meeting as 'disaster' roadworks cause delays

A council is holding an urgent meeting with a water company after commuters experienced long delays earlier.

Temporary traffic lights have been installed on Salisbury Road in Marlborough while Thames Water completes repair works. This has resulted in widespread disruption on nearby roads, including the A346 and A4.

Wiltshire Council councillor Kym-Marie Cleasby said the council has scheduled a meeting with Thames Water to discuss the works.

Thames Water apologised for the disruption and added: "We have now been able to remove the traffic lights, which should help with traffic flows in the area and the reinstatement of the verge which was excavated will happen imminently."

Councillor Jane Davies posted to Facebook that she was "as cross as anyone" about the situation and described it as a "disaster".

Some commuters claimed a 15-journey took them over an hour earlier.

Cleasby said her business Marlborough Catering, which provides school meals, has also been disrupted.

She said: "My business has been really adversely impacted. It's not just meals getting out, it's people getting in.

"I've had staff leave their home an hour early this morning just to get in. I've been in the kitchen cooking the meals myself as well, which I don't usually do."

The AA's traffic update website currently states that traffic is slow through the centre of Marlborough.

The Thames Water spokesperson added: "We're sorry for the disruption caused on Salisbury Road in Marlborough by our roadworks. We appreciate the patience and understanding shown by residents and all those travelling through the area while we work to restore things to normal."

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