Matlock roadwork disruption leaves residents raging

Matlock resident Jessica Gregory says the traffic is the worst it has been in her 25 years living in the town

Motorists in a Derbyshire tourist town say they are fed up with months of delays caused by temporary traffic lights and roadworks.

Work on flood defences, water works and broadband installations have all affected drivers in Matlock.

Businesses say their customers are being affected as a result of people being stuck in standstills.

Derbyshire County Council, which is the local highways authority, has already apologised for delays to drivers.

"As the highways authority we co-ordinate all roadworks, but utility companies have a legal duty to carry out work on their equipment, which provide essential services for everyone," it said in a statement.

Residents have even jokingly re-named the town "Gridlock" due to the ongoing issues.

Matlock motorists say they are tired of dealing with snaking queues around roadworks

The roadworks have become a running joke in the town as traffic regularly grinds to a halt

Jessica Gregory, from the Garden Room cafe and gift shop, said the gridlock exceeded even the height of the tourist season.

"It's never been like this before, even on the busiest summer Bank Holiday Monday," she said.

"Every road into the centre of Matlock, every back street, has got [temporary] traffic lights on.

"There's no way round it, so the traffic's just clogging up all over."

Pub landlord Patrick Stevenson said regulars were running out of patience

Patrick Stevenson runs the Thorn Tree Inn, where regulars are so irritated by roadworks they have started running a bingo game to spot them all.

He said behind the humour was real frustration.

"Everyone's just sick of it - it's awful," he said.

Severn Trent and the Environment Agency have also apologised for any inconvenience caused by the work.

The traffic problems have seen some Matlock residents get creative

Residents in Matlock are hoping for an end to constant roadworks