ROADWORKS at one of the city’s busiest roundabouts are creating traffic chaos and damaging businesses.

Two roads are closed and three are subject to temporary traffic lights at the Seven Dials roundabout in Brighton, where broken kerbstones are being replaced and the road level changed.

The disruption is set to last another two weeks but Brighton and Hove City Council refused to provide a schedule of which roads would be closed when.

Ala Alrousan, of Magdusia newsagents in Chatham Place, which is currently closed, told of his frustration at the lack of work taking place. He said: “Today I’ve only seen two men on the roundabout.”

Kate Goudy, manager of Brighton and Hove Radio Cabs, which has an office on the roundabout, said the position of the temporary traffic lights was causing problems.

She said: “The zebra crossings are just before the lights so when they turn green the cars still can’t move because people are crossing the road.”

On a visit yesterday, The Argus saw cars swerving around pedestrians on the crossings in an effort to make the green light.

Brighton and Hove Buses said the roadworks were causing some services to run up to half an hour late.

In 2013, a £950,000 project expanded the roundabout’s central island to improve safety.

A low cobbled oval border intended for buses and HGVs was edged with kerbstones which stood slightly proud of the tarmac.

However, the kerbstones have been badly damaged by vehicles mounting them to driver over the cobbled section.

Workers are now replacing the broken kerbstones, which will be brought flush with the tarmac.

The Argus asked the council for an updated schedule of the works and for information about the new design.

But press officer Alan Stone refused to answer our questions.

He said: “We’re not able to do any more research on Seven Dials for the paper, partly because of the resources available in this office and partly because we need to leave busy transport officers to get on with this and other schemes.”

The repairs are not being carried out at the council’s expense. Transport committee chairwoman Gill Mitchell said discussions were continuing regarding the initial workmanship and design and the stone used had been sent away for a quality inspection.

A workman on the site said a four-man team was working 6.30am to 5.30pm daily.

He said from Monday, closures will switch to Dyke Road (south) and Vernon Terrace with Chatham Place remaining closed and Buckingham Road going two ways. The road will be resurfaced.

CURRENT CLOSURES

The one-way Prestonville Road is currently closed along with Chatham Place.

A diversion directs approaching southbound traffic to the left up Howard Place.

Buckingham Place, which runs one-way away from the roundabout, is open with no temporary lights.

Dyke Road (South) runs one-way towards the roundabout and is open with three-way temporary lights. Just before the lights is a zebra crossing.

Vernon Terrace is open in both directions without lights but the road narrows with the left-hand lane blocked.

Goldsmid Road and Dyke Road (North) is open in both directions with temporary lights. Before the lights are zebra crossings.

FRUSTRATION MOUNTS FOR DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS

CARS mounting kerbs of narrowed roads, vehicles going both ways around the roundabout, drivers weaving between pedestrians on zebra crossings… and not a lot of work going on.

To anyone who has been unfortunate enough to visit Seven Dials recently, the scene will sound familiar.

The junction was eerily quiet when The Argus visited at 1.15pm yesterday. A portaloo and a one-man digger stood unmanned on the traffic island but there were no workmen to be seen. And with closed roads and red lights, traffic noise was minimal.

Outside Small Batch Coffee, Susan Shoolheifer, who works overlooking the roundabout, said sarcastically: “It’s a hive of activity isn’t it?

“On Tuesday we had a day of pneumatic drilling and nothing since.”

Craig West of Dyke Road said: “Why aren’t they working? They board it all up and nothing happens. It’s a crucial junction they’ve closed and there’s no one here.”

The workmen were taking their lunch and later resumed work.

The Argus counted three but was told a four-man team was on the job. One explained new kerbstones had been placed and time was needed for the concrete to set.

Transport committee chairwoman Gill Mitchell could not comment on staffing but was confident that contractors Ed Burton would complete the project on schedule, by October 7.

The concern for many is that on the three open roads, the zebra crossings immediately precede the temporary traffic lights.

Chris Lee in Watts and Co chemist in Dyke Road said: “It’s mad. I see a lot of angry people, a lot of beeping. It’s quite a struggle to cross the road for pedestrians. The cars don’t stop because they’ve been waiting so long and they’ve got a green light.”

Queueing cars tailed back up Dyke Road as far as the brow of the hill.

We watched as the light turned green and the first driver escaped on to the roundabout. Then right on cue, two pedestrians stepped on to the zebra crossing.

The first car stopped. The next weaved between pedestrians who switched instantly from oblivious to furious.

And for the frustrated people of Seven Dials there is still a good two weeks to go.