AS DEVIZES braces itself for seven weeks of traffic chaos in the hope that London Road rush hour jams are eased a project to change another nightmare junction have moved ahead.

The town council has backed plans to stop motorists making the dangerous manoeuvre turning left and right into and out of Dunkirk Hill at Shanes Castle.

A report from the Devizes Community Transport Group said the left turn for people coming up Caen Hill was dangerous as it was a blind bend. A report to Tuesday's town council meeting said: "This manoeuvre requires vehicles to traverse both lanes on Dunkirk Hill and frequently cannot make the turn in one move. It is a blind corner and a fast moving road with a pavement on the other side."

Drivers coming up Dunkirk Hill and trying to turn right also cause chaos by having to pull out across both lanes and have poor visibility.

Now consultation is to take place before signs are put up to stop the turns taking place.

Town clerk Simon Fisher said: "Most local people would not attempt to make these turns but tourists and people following Sat Navs often do not realise how mad it is until they have started the turn and then realise they are in the middle of the road.

"There have been numerous shunts at the junction when traffic has had to stop suddenly. There was full agreement that we should back the transport group's plan."

On the other side of town preliminary work on the junction of London Road and Windsor Drive started this week but will move up a gear now that school holidays have begun. North Midland Contracting, working for Wiltshire Council, will work six days a week on the scheme to put in traffic lights and change the road layout.

Philip Whitehead, chairman of the community area transport group, said: “When they are finished, these works will ease congestion into Devizes and reduce countless hours of frustration and delay.

“It will also make a substantial contribution to the town’s economy, making transport much more convenient for businesses, and for commuters, shoppers and visitors, to get into Devizes.

“We have worked really hard to plan these works so that any disruption to motorists is minimised. However we accept that these works will cause delays and we thank people for their patience.”