ROADWORKS and road closures combined to cause a traffic nightmare in Malmesbury, with drivers hit by major delays.

Wiltshire Council closed part of Abbey Row last week so Wessex Water could carry out the emergency replacement of a fire hydrant.

This saw traffic diverted towards roadworks that were already taking place at Filands, leading to large traffic jams over the past week.

Barbara Gale, who was among the drivers to suffer, told the Standard: “It took me an extra half hour to get home to Sherston.

“I sometimes wonder if planners who decide on roadworks actually think ahead, as the diversion takes you through another set of roadworks at Filands which are single file, light controlled and blocks free flow of diverted traffic in both directions.”

Fellow driver Becki Deacon added: “I work at Athelstan House on nights and it took me over half an hour to get home this morning.

“The main road was queued right back past the Startley turning, I had to come through Fox Key and that was absolutely chocca.”

Pauline Preston was equally frustrated. She said: “I live in Poole Road by the primary school, so trying to get anywhere is a complete nightmare.

“I had to collect my son from Kemble station yesterday afternoon so went through Brokenborough, but so did everyone else. I had to reverse twice to let people by."

She added: “I’m not really sure if the [plans for a new] roundabout will really solve the problem at Dyson because the volume of traffic will still be going in the same direction.

“In the evenings it causes chaos at the top of Filands at the junction opposite the garden centre onto the A429.

“I think people are cross that two major roads have roadworks at the same time.”

But resident Stephen Gaulter argued that the work being done on Abbey Row was essential. “Remember we have recently had a devastating fire in Malmesbury,” he said.

“It is of utmost importance that fire hydrants are in working order. Yes, it is a nuisance, but it’s only a short term nuisance. The girl whose house burnt down has got far more problems than having to wait in a traffic queue."

But resident Sarah Webber countered: “If it was absolutely necessary to do both  works at the same time it could have been planned better. Perhaps doing the hydrant works overnight?

"Malmesbury is a small town and putting major disruptive roadworks on two of the main routes seems like poor management.”

Resident Ross Parker said that the state of the roads in Malmesbury is "shocking".

"The road from Malmesbury to Sherston isn’t just in bad condition, it’s dangerous.

“Someone has already come off heading towards the Red Bull and hit the post. Someone will die hitting that pothole on the corner soon and then the council will decide to do something.”

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “We agreed with the utilities company for them to carry out this essential work during the summer holiday to minimise disruption. We acknowledge there were also temporary traffic signals at Tetbury Hill, however that road is still open and accessible."