ANGER has erupted after a large wooden planter was installed in the middle of a road overnight.

Brighton and Hove City Council workers put the box in Rottingdean High Street at the weekend.

But residents said it was ridiculous.

The box, which is at least a metre square and a metre deep and full of soil ready to be planted, is one of a number of council measures to improve traffic flow in the area.

There are reports that cars have been trying to pull over, believing the road to be closed.

One driver, Zoe Whatley, said: “I think the plans are ridiculous.

“There is so much traffic there already before they put them there.

“It’s a small width way road as it is. Emergency services are going to struggle to get to somebody.

“They haven’t even thought about worse weather such as ice and snow sliding when trying to brake and drive around them.

“What about shop deliveries or online home shopping. Where will they stop?

“They have no thought for the community at all. It’s a 20mph zone. No one ever speeds there.

“Absolutely stupid. People have no idea until you drive there yourselves or are a passenger in a bus.”

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for the area, said: “The parish council have been asking for it and it’s meant to both improve follow of traffic on A259 and air quality in village.

“I don’t know if it’s completed yet or has the correct signage to stop motorists second guessing.”

It is believed the installation is experimental and aims to tackle air quality in the area.

But many residents have reacted angrily to the decision.

One said: “Only the council could make such a massive mistake like this, holding traffic up in the village and giving priority to the coast road.

“It should be the other way round.”

Posting on Twitter, Darren Lighton said: “Absolute joke.

“Lets put this massive planter in a very thin major link road between villages and Brighton area.

“Who makes these decisions?”

Another Twitter user said: “It is going to a be nightmare in the mornings when traffic trying to head north against the southern flow.

“It’s a clever thing is they installed it for half term week so we wont know the full effect until the week after next.”

Brighton and Hove city Council was not available for comment.

What do you think of the installation? Contact jody.doherty-cove@theargus.co.uk