COMMUNITY leaders have won a battle to stop a controversial Christchurch roadworks scheme after fears it would cause gridlock.

Dorset County Council had proposed to close Stony Lane in Burton this autumn to put traffic lights either side of the railway bridge to make the traffic flow one way and widen the footpath as part of the Three Towns Travel Plan.

But, after concerns the £140,000 scheme would cause traffic chaos for people in Burton, and strong opposition from county and parish councillors, the scheme has been pulled until spring 2014.

County councillor David Jones said: “I welcome the decision to postpone the works and thank the county council for finally agreeing there would have been immense disruption caused in Burton.

“This work would have resulted in minimal benefits for a small minority of road users.

“I am looking forward to future schemes, which will include improving access to Stony Lane roundabout from Burton.”

Parish council chairman Judy Jamieson added: “I am absolutely delighted that common sense has prevailed.

"This will relieve a number of worries that the villagers had about exiting the village and especially at peak times when it could easily have put on another 45 minutes to their travelling time and caused chaos on the bypass.”

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: “Together with local councillors, we have decided to delay the scheme until the outcome of the planning application by Morrison’s, to redevelop the Beagle Aircraft site in Stony Lane South, is known.

“If this application is successful there is potential to integrate traffic control systems at the railway bridge and the junction.”

Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset County Council, said: “We are working with the local community to find a better solution to this situation.

"There is also a possibility that traffic disruption during construction works can be minimised.”

Network Rail will postpone its bridge maintenance until next spring.