RESIDENTS and local businesses have blasted the ‘improved’ Iford Roundabout - saying it is more dangerous and congested than ever.

Bournemouth Council recently constructed a bus stop, a bus lane and new cycle lane at the key junction, but locals say this work has led to the already busy roundabout becoming gridlocked most mornings.

Christchurch resident Brian Case said: “Cars cannot get around the roundabout, cars are blocking the ‘keep clear’ sign and there are many, how can we say, ‘hand gestures’ being liberally handed out by motorists and cyclists alike.

“Indeed it is now so bad even the buses cannot use their new lane and bus stop.”

Mr Case also said that whereas previously, traffic from Christchurch used to funnel off either onwards to Boscombe or right onto Castle Lane East, now two lanes onto Castle Lane East makes traffic back up towards Christchurch even more.

The Daily Echo spent yesterday morning’s rush hour at the roundabout and witnessed significant queues building up in all directions.

Tom Bagnall, owner of the nearby Christchurch Angling Centre, said: “It is horrendous here at peak times. What they seem to have done is take the busiest corner of that roundabout and squeezed it.

“People coming out of Iford Lane are struggling to know which lane to get into. I don’t know why they put a bus stop on the roundabout, they could have moved it further along the road. It is a very busy roundabout anyway, so why they thought they should squeeze it more, I just don’t know.”

Meanwhile, local worker Bridget Lane said: “They put the new bus stop in so the road has been narrowed. Usually when I come to work, and at lunchtime, the traffic is backing up all the way along the road.

“I was crossing the other day and basically nobody knew where to go, there were all these cars just stuck in the middle. I even said to one woman what mayhem it looked like. She looked back at me and mouthed the word ‘help’.

“It is hard to cross as well - they have put lights in but they are not working yet. It is dangerous.”