FURIOUS residents have hit out at Notts County Council after contractors started to build an "unnecessary" mini-roundabout in Nuthall.
The roundabout is being built at the site of a T-junction of Roland Avenue and Nottingham Road to make it easier for drivers to avoid a bus plug – a stretch of road which allows buses to avoid congestion at peak times.
However residents claim it is being introduced without their support and could make the roads more dangerous.
Work began on the mini-roundabout yesterday and is expected to be finished in the first week in January.
However, many living nearby are not happy, including Rick Brett, of Roland Avenue.
Mr Brett, 54, said: "Adding a mini roundabout will have absolutely no benefits for people living here and might actually make things a lot more difficult – it's just unnecessary.
"If I want to get my car out of my drive, I used to back out onto a junction.
"Now I'll be backing out onto a mini-roundabout which will have a lot more cars coming down it and the potential for accidents will be increased.
"I feel quite bitter about all of this because I don't think our views are being taken into account. It's a gigantic waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere."
He added: "The design at the moment means traffic passes by my wall without too much intrusion, but the roundabout will massively change that."
Other residents are also angry with the plans.
Coleen Clark, of Roland Avenue, said: "It's disgraceful they can do something like this and just turn up and do it – I would have thought they would have to do some sort of consultation.
"If they did then people here would have said what they think – it is a bad idea.
"This road hasn't seen an accident since around 1990 and there doesn't seem to be the need to change it. It will only make things a lot worse."
Dave Wildey, chairman of the Nuthall Tenants' and Residents' Association, said: "I would have thought the council have better things to spend their money on than putting a roundabout here that isn't needed."
Dave Walker, the county council's highways manager for Broxtowe, said: "The bus plug, which operates between 4pm and 6.30pm on Monday to Friday, has been in place for many years but has been poorly observed by motorists who use the old Nottingham Road to avoid queuing traffic on the A610 and gain access to Nuthall Island.
"The county council is now installing number plate recognition cameras near to the Nuthall Island in a bid to enforce the bus plug.
"Warning signs are being installed on the A610 to give drivers plenty of notice.
"However, national guidelines recommend that you also allow motorists who may have strayed accidentally into the bus plug the chance to avoid it and turn away safely. The new mini roundabout will allow for this."
