THE completion of the year-long £16million Weymouth Transport Package has been met with a mixed response.

Some have welcomed the end of a year of roadworks but say the new traffic system has many flaws.

Others say the works – in place a year ahead of the Olympics – have improved traffic flow and will put a stop to congestion.

But traders say their year of pain will take time to recover from.

Mike Roughton, co-owner of the Queens Hotel, said: “The traffic seems to be flowing reasonably well through King Street.

“But I don’t think there’s been any consideration from the council about the impact the roadworks would have on people in this street.

“It’s all very well in the long-term but that doesn’t help us in the short-term.”

He said: “We’ve got some good venues here. But some of the businesses have lost thousands of pounds because of the roadworks.”

Mark Easton, a technician at Aquila Computer Systems Ltd in King Street, said: “Drivers aren’t stopping for very long. The traffic seems to flow okay now.

“It will take a while to get used to the new system. I don’t think the fact that people can’t turn right anymore on to The Esplanade has confused people.”

Sun Inn landlady Jackie Stevens said it will take a while for her business to get back on track after the disruption.

She said: “I’m relieved it’s over and I want to move on now.

“I think trade has been hit too hard to claw back for the six weeks that are left of summer.”

Graham Thomas, landlord of the Somerset pub, said he was concerned about the new traffic lights at the Queen Street junction.

He added: “This junction is an accident waiting to happen. When you get heavy traffic in the morning and at night you can get people in the middle of the road who are trapped when the lights change and there is queuing traffic in King Street.

Taxi driver Pete Walker said the new traffic lights have put an extra £1 on the meter for the average journey down King Street.

Mr Walker, of P&D Contracts, said: “I’ve spent 40 years driving in Weymouth and the traffic isn’t moving any faster now.

“There should be a yellow box on the street junction and you have to go round the station over all the humps and bumps to get to the Park District.

“The Rodwell Road junction is horrendous. It used to take 10 minutes to get to town and it now takes 25 minutes.”

Nigel Richardson, chairman of the Weymouth and Portland Taxi Association, said: “King Street seems to be an improvement.

“But the junction with Queen Street needs a box junction and they haven’t done it.

“I think it’s going to cause a problem with people using the forecourt of Weymouth train station as the main thoroughfare to the Park District.”

A South West Trains spokesman said the company is talking to Dorset County Council about plans to ease congestion around the station.

She added: “However, nothing has been firmly agreed yet so I won’t be able to confirm what the plans are going to be. The summer car park at the back of the station will remain unaffected.”