RESIDENTS in a Bournemouth neighbourhood have welcomed the sight of roadworks, which they say prevent their area from being used as a rat run.

Percy Road only reopened after an 18-month closure in February.

Originally the Boscombe road was due to be shut for a few weeks due to surface damage and subsidence issues.

However, the Wessex Water repairs were prolonged until earlier this year.

Less than four months on, SSE are currently carrying out works to repair a high voltage mains fault.

Temporary traffic lights are in use on Percy Road either side of the junction with Wollstonecraft Road and Watkin Road.

While the roadworks have caused frustration for motorists, residents were delighted.

Steve Robson, who has lived at his home in Percy Road since 2009, said: “Normally the road is very busy so when it was closed it was great, but soon after it reopened the traffic returned.

“The speed people go along here it is like a race track at commuting times.

“I have no problems with them doing work in the road.

“Wessex Water kept us informed about what was going on and I had no issues.”

Fellow Percy Road resident Amanda Gore said: “It is to our benefit as residents though because the road is a lot quieter because the road is closed or their is work going on.

“Everyone who lives along here will say the same thing.

“I don’t understand why it takes so long for everything to get done.

“The work that took them almost two years could have probably been done in a month.”

Wessex Water’s extended work in the area involved repairing the Bournemouth coastal interceptor sewer, which is 18 metres below ground and takes flows to Holdenhurst sewage treatment works.

The current SSE work is due to be completed by Tuesday. Another resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said they had not been warned about the temporary traffic lights.

“It is a bit of pain for people who cut through here, but for us it is great,” they said.

“I quite like it when there are roadworks. After it was closed for so long I think people have never come back to using this road.”