MOTORISTS have described how the ‘nightmare’ closure at Alder Road in Poole has led to hour-long delays.

Emergency gas works mean a nine-day closure of Alder Road between the southern junction of Langside Avenue to its junction with Wallisdown Road – something drivers say is ‘a joke’.

Gridlock on the diversion route led to major delays for parents of children at Talbot Primary School, with one father spending an hour in traffic for a journey which usually takes just 10 minutes.

Nick Morgado, whose daughter attends Talbot Primary School, said: “It’s a joke.

“I don’t know why the council didn’t think about the fact that it’s the last week of school and now parents have to take an alternative route.

“It normally takes me 10 minutes to get to school and this morning the journey took me an hour.

“It was a complete nightmare.

"There were all different vehicles following the diversion including HGVs and buses so you can imagine that it was chaotic.”

Langside Avenue is closed to all vehicles, at its northern junction with Alder Road, the western section of Mossley Avenue is also closed to all vehicles at its junction with Alder Road.

The eastern section of Mossley Avenue and the western side of Bryant Road are also closed.

Full access for emergency services and residents will be permitted whilst no parking, loading or unloading is allowed whilst the emergency works take place. The work is being carried out by SGN and is expected to be complete by Wednesday, July 28.

Bradley Barlow, a spokesperson for SGN, said: “We’re carrying out urgent repairs to our gas network in Alder Road, Poole.

“To ensure everyone’s safety, we’ve temporarily closed Alder Road between its junctions with the roundabout on the A3049 Wallisdown Road and Langside Avenue. A signed diversion is in place for motorists.

“Gas supplies to homes and businesses in the local area have not been affected. It’s too soon to say how long our work will take but we aim to fully reopen the road as soon as possible.”