A CONTROVERSIAL set of traffic lights is to be reviewed only weeks after they were installed.

The traffic signals at the junction of Cromwell Avenue and Ladywood Road, outside the Westbrook Centre, were put in place after residents called for greater access for cyclists, pedestrians and people with prams and wheelchairs.

But, after reports of car smashes and near misses, frequent traffic jams and complaints from residents and councillors flooded into the Warrington Guardian, Warrington Borough Council says it is taking another look at its decision.

It says the removal of the roundabout and the installation of traffic signals was only considered after other options had been discounted on highway safety and design grounds.

The council claims signal controlled pedestrian crossings, known as Puffins', are the only practical and safe way of achieving the level of pedestrian access required by a centre such as this and that the previous roundabout arrangement made crossing as a pedestrian difficult, especially at busy times.

And highways bosses revealed that, in changing the junction, they acknowledged that motorists would experience some additional delays.

Phil Johnson, head of service for transportation at the council said: "The council readily accepts that the changeover has caused problems to motorists and wants to assure residents that it is working exhaustively to remedy the problems.

"A number of important signal changes have been made and signal checks confirm that for the majority of the time, the signals are working well.

"However, it is clear there are delays at certain times and efforts are being intensified to identify the triggers and address the problems."