HUGE tailbacks are the fear of an Upton ward councillor who says motorists were not given sufficient warning of roadworks which started this week.

The slip road from the A350 was closed around 11am yesterday ahead of gas main replacement works on Poole Road which get under way this week.

But district and county Coun-cillor Fred Drane has criticised Southern Gas Networks for what he believes is an inadequate warning to allow motorists to plan alternative routes.

He told the Echo: “They have not notified me, I don’t believe they have notified the county council and they certainly haven’t notified the public sufficiently.”

He said there were no signs put up except one near Upton House to notify people of the three weeks of planned works to replace iron gas mains with plastic pipes.

During this time the slip road from the A350 will be closed and motorists will be diverted via Blandford Road North.

Temporary two-way traffic lights will be at the entrance to Upton Country Park for the majority of the project.

Cllr Drane added: “From 4.30pm to 6pm Poole Road is chock-a-block with people coming from all over the place.”

He predicted the flood of cars diverted via Blandford Road North would get held up at the double roundabout in Upton, adding: “I’m just hoping the tailback won’t go all the way back to the A350.”

A spokesman for Southern Gas Networks said they “understood that people can become frustrated by roadworks”.

He added: “We will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption during our work and we apologise in advance for any inconvenience.”