A controversial road scheme to reduce congestion has provoked renewed anger from motorists and residents.

Thousands of people are demanding action over the traffic lights and a three-mile bus lane on the A259 South Coast Road between Ovingdean and Telscombe Cliffs.

The £1.8 million project has been blamed for increasing traffic congestion and is still provoking anger from residents and motorists nine months after the changes were introduced.

More than 3,000 people have called for action to end the tailbacks on the traffic-choked A259.

Responding to a questionnaire by East Sussex County Councillor Simon Kirby, residents highlighted concerns about narrow lanes, long queues, streets turning into rat runs and the road being blocked by buses.

They believe that further improvements at the main junctions at Telscombe Cliffs, Saltdean, Rottingdean and Ovingdean would help.

Councillor Kirby, who is standing as a Conservative Parliamentary candidate in Brighton Kemptown, canvassed peoples’ opinions after realising that traffic on the stretch had not got better.

He dropped 15,000 surveys to residents and was surprised by the response and the strength of feeling on the issue.

He said: “I have written to Jenny Rowlands, director of environment at Brighton and Hove City Council, and have asked her, while understanding the need to promote sustainable transport and focus on improving bus services, to recognise that many residents of Ovingdean, Rottingdean, Saltdean, Peacehaven and Telscombe Cliffs consider that the recent changes to the coast road have made the situation worse.”

The bus lane opened in July last year. It was a joint project between East Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council, but the county council took the lead.

Traffic lights replaced a mini roundabout at the junction of Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, and South Coast Road.

Residents responding to the questionnaire said they wanted the roundabout reinstated.

Coun Kirby said the bus lane itself was not the problem but rather the way the scheme had been executed.

He said: “A lot of people cannot understand why the scheme hasn't been as well thought out as it might have been.

“There are some people who think they should rip it up and return it to what it was.

“But if we are to have a bus lane, let's have one that works for everyone. We want to encourage people to use public transport but we don't want to damage the environment with non-moving cars.”

When the changes were unveiled last year they sparked traffic chaos and led to delays on bus journeys of up to 45 minutes. The Argus was bombarded by calls from angry residents, commuters and motorists claiming the changes had made things worse.

The scheme, managed by East Sussex County Council, is part of a sustainable transport corridor.

In the aftermath, the two councils promised a further round of roadworks to improve the flow of traffic.

Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, said: “The last small scale modifications haven't been carried out yet.

“It's quite a bit of work to do. They've got to realign kerbing to make the traffic more free flowing towards the junction.

“The aim is to improve the traffic but it will never be totally free flowing – there is no magic solution.”

While Mr French said he was keen to see further improvements on the stretch of road, the new bus lane has had a dramatic effect on passenger numbers.

He said: “We've had an amazing increase in the number of people travelling with 20% growth in passenger numbers.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokesman said: “The works are intended to make the flow of public transport much quicker thereby increasing bus use.

“We are consulting with residents and motorists as much as we can because we are determined to get the scheme right.”

Councillor Matthew Lock, East Sussex County Council lead member for transport and the environment, was unavailable for comment.

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