CALLS have been made to improve highways management in and around Weymouth after roads became gridlocked during recent events.

Many commuters spent hours stuck in traffic jams when Ironman took place in the area earlier this month with road closures and diversions criticised.

There were also long queues of traffic along the Esplanade when the harbourside was closed for the filming of Dunkirk as well as for the Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival and Waterfest.

Speaking at a meeting of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s Management Committee, Esplanade resident Bob Underwood said: “It is a disgrace, it causes frustration, it discourages tourists and hinders many in their daily business. This is not new. It happens every time the harbourside is closed.

“I must stress I am not against events, properly managed they help promote Weymouth. What I am against is the amateurish way the traffic is managed with no one in authority taking responsibility.

“During the Waterfest, some elderly B&B customers had to walk from the station with their luggage as taxis could not operate, and arrived soaked. What a welcome to Weymouth”

Mr Underwood suggested a scheme for when the harbourside is closed to reverse the oneway system from East Street at the junction with Belle Vue and to also reverse it down Mitchell Street and St Edmund Street and also calling for traffic lights to be controlled during events.

Cllr Colin Huckle, WPBC’s briefholder for transport and infrastructure said that he has met with Dorset County Council officers to talk about the issues, adding it wasn’t just big events that caused traffic problems.

Cllr Francis Drake, who also owns Antonio’s café on St Mary Street said: “When the Ironman was on I might as well have closed the door. There’s no way any customer could get in to me. I was landlocked and considering I’ve got to pay the rates all year round I feel this is wrong.”

Both Ironman organisers and the county council have apologised for the disruption.