THE group leader for the Swindon Labour Party has called for a more joined-up approach to the town’s current traffic problems.

Numerous roadworks and closures around the town have led to long delays and much frustration for commuters.

On Wednesday it was announced that the Polaris Way bus gate will be opened for cars from next week to ease some of the problems caused by work around the Bruce Street Bridges.

Coun Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney) has said that while the move is welcome, he feels it is something done as a last-minute solution and no real thought has gone into the plan.

But Swindon Council’s transport leader has denied this claim, telling Coun Grant to “grow up”.

Coun Grant wants to see a wider plan to deal with the issues, with greater dialogue between the agencies involved in running the roads and carrying out any work.

He said: “While welcome, the opening of the bus gate is too little too late and appears to be an example of the council reacting on the hoof to events instead of getting a grip of them.

“Nobody seems to be in charge of co-ordinating these roadworks and, amazingly, Bruce Street Bridges and the Green-bridge rail bridge have been allowed to start at the same time. On top of that, Northern Road, Cricklade Road and Drakes Way have been closed or partially closed in recent days.

“This is not only causing misery among residents all over Swindon but at a time when local businesses are coming towards their busiest time of the year they are being hampered by these roadworks.

“A process needs to be put in place so that so many roadworks taking place at one time can be avoided. The council should be taking the lead on this and I am calling on them to act now to avert future problems of a similar nature."

However, Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Coving-ham and Dorcan), the council’s cabinet member for transport, accused the Labour leader of trying to play politics over the issue.

“I thought I might need to knock some heads together to keep Swindon moving, but you just have to give up where Coun Jim Grant is concerned,” he said.

“He has been notable in his absence over the past few weeks then pops up to confirm in a private email that he ‘fully accepts that all the works currently being undertaken will eventually benefit the town, and that the Labour group is happy to support and assist in any way’ and in the next breath launches a shameless political attack.

“Grow up and stop acting like a petulant child.

“Lessons must be learned but there has already been decisive action taken to help reduce delays.

“The council has postponed 19 roads being resurfaced; reviewed all the bus gates to see which could be opened up; will introduce a new scheme to require utility companies to ask for permission to dig up the roads rather than inform the council they intend too; and convinced utility companies like SSE to reschedule some of their major electric cabling work until April.”