FRUSTRATED motorists and residents are urging Southend Council to do the right thing and switch off town centre traffic lights to ease congestion.

It comes as a in-depth report has accused local authorities of having an “anti-car attitude” and has warned motorists are getting stuck in traffic jams due to poorly designed junctions.

The study, by the British Infrastructure Group, supported by the AA and the RAC, says congestion is costing drivers money on wasted fuel and calls for a ban on new road controls being installed - and for councils to switch off traffic lights.

Campaigners in Southend have long-believed that traffic in the centre owes to large numbers of traffic lights and limited parking being available.

Gary Gordon, 52, a taxi driver, of Whitehouse Meadows in Eastwood, feels that the lights do not need to be used all day and is calling on the council to look at the report’s findings.

He said: “I understand that safety is important, but ultimately the lights probably aren’t needed for about 18 hours every day.

“The other problem you have is people trying to jump the lights, and that is what is causing the accidents. On Friday morning at Bellhouse Lane, I saw a car very nearly write off two vans after going racing through on an amber, which meant they blocked the entire junction.

“It can create more problems than it solves. The other area that’s bad for this is the Tesco roundabout on the A127, there are so many lights there and it’s unnecessary particularly at night.

“The congestion ultimately costs passengers and drivers money, replacing clutches, brakes and other things. Perhaps savings on this could be ploughed back into things such as streetlights.”

Robert Gage, an analyst developer, works in an office block in Victoria Avenue, and has criticised the road’s junction with Queensway.

Mr Gage, 47, of Queensland Avenue, who is also standing as a Ukip candidate for Prittlewell in the upcoming borough council elections.

He said: “From my office I have a perfect vantage point of that stretch of road. Since it went from being a roundabout to a T-junction with lights, it has caused nothing but trouble for people wishing to commute.

“It was a perfectly good roundabout, and it was unnecessarily changes.

“The jams are affecting our town centre and tourism, as locals and visitors alike are finding it increasingly more difficult to get around.”

The report added that drivers, cyclists and pedestrians need to take more responsibility for their own safety, co-operate with each other and speed up the flow of traffic.

It added that in Ashford in Kent, accident rates fell by around 41 per cent since traffic lights were removed in 2008.

*Other candidates standing in Prittlewell include; Mary Betson (Lib Dem), Mike Fieldhouse (Lab), David Garston (Con), Paul Ryder (Ind) and Abbie-Jade Sutherland (Green).