DRIVERS in Tavistock are reaching boiling point this week as two sets of traffic lights are causing tailbacks throughout the town.

Necessary roadworks are taking place on the A386 at both Plymouth Road near Texaco garage and Drake’s Roundabout but due to the volume of traffic, especially at peak times, drivers have said it is taking them up to an hour to travel across the town.

Earlier this month, the Times reported that roadworks were due to take place by Texaco as part of a five-week scheme of improvements by Devon County Council to include a crossing upgrade and road resurfacing. These are due to end on November 4.

But the chaos could continue until the end of November with the addition of traffic lights at Drake’s Roundabout in order to widen the junction on Plymouth Road, leading to the town.

The traffic lights were put in place on Monday (October 26) and are being carried out by Churchill Retirement Living for its new Fitzford Lodge development on Plymouth Road.

A spokesperson from Churchill Retirement Living said: ‘To meet the planning obligations for our new development, we are carrying out work to widen the junction to the roundabout on Plymouth Road.

‘We’re sorry for the temporary inconvenience which we are working very hard to keep to a minimum and we plan for the roadworks to be completed within four weeks.’But drivers have said that there had been no forewarning of the intended roadworks — and that this oversight resulted in long delays for commuters. One person reported on social media that it took 25 minutes to travel one mile from Bishopsmead to Pixon Lane.The roadworks were agreed with Devon County Council.Devon county councillor for Tavistock and Gulworthy Debo Sellis said: ‘These are the optimum months to get roadworks done. We couldn’t have done this in the summer and it needs to be done before Christmas, and January and February are harsh months.‘The development has contractors who are taking on the work.‘There will be resurfacing night work from Morrisons to Texaco and a part of Brook Lane in November. All the work is done together because of the weather and it is more effective and efficient.‘I could see this would happen when West Devon Borough Council decided to concentrate the developments in Okehampton and Tavistock. People need homes and we are going to have to be patient until all the work gets done. ‘Equally we have had complaints about pot holes etc but we can’t do the work without disruption.’The roadworks at Drake’s Roundabout are due to end on November 29.