Concerns have been raised by several readers about the problems caused by traffic avoiding the road works in Copse Cross Street. The issues include having to take a long diversion around Ross, as far as Goodrich, so drivers are coming up with alternative routes as well as worries about parked cars blocking diversion routes.

Reader Ken Evans Adi said:?"If you come up Alton Road, you are diverted down Chase Road and then yto join the traffic diverted from the north of the town and subsequently to Wilton! "I don't know where the diversion then runs – Goodrich?

"So locals are not going to use these silly diversions, but make up their own alternative routes."There would appear to be no well thought, planned and executed diversion routes for this work!"

Philip Drew-White added:?"How long are the roads going to be closed? Merrivale and the Gresleys are being used like a race track. There is going to be an accident before too long. The roads are not wide enough with the cars parked to take that much volume of traffic.

Other readers have expressed their worries about what might happen if an emergency vehicle was trying to negotiate its way throught the town as a peak time.

The work is part of a scheme to replace the gas pipes in the town and the disruption is expected to last no more than three weeks.

For more stories in full please see this week's Ross Gazette.