Cockermouth is a confusion of roadworks, signs and traffic lights, say frustrated residents.

A five-week project on Station Road was extended this week by four days. Three weeks of roadworks along Lorton Road, involving road closures and a lengthy detour, started yesterday.

Traffic lights went up on Low Road yesterday and were due to be removed this afternoon. Today lights also appeared on Market Place, Kirkgate and Lamplugh Road.

Alan Smith, a town councillor and leader of Allerdale Council, said: "There are yellow signs and lights everywhere, it's absolutely ridiculous. Why on earth are they doing them all at the same time?

"It's going to cause gridlock and mayhem at busy times, I was stuck in Aldi yesterday and could not get out.

"People are confused by all the signs and diversions which simply send you to another set of traffic lights.

"Planners need to take into account the impact this will have on the town."
Councillor Smith is also concerned about people living near Lorton Road who have had to access the A66 by Strawberry How Road and narrow country lanes.

"I have had three calls this morning from residents on Riverdale who are having to go along Strawberry How Road and through narrow lanes to Embleton to get to the A66," he said.

"The Strawberry Grange development wagons are having to use the same route and it's causing all sorts of problems."

Malcolm Mavin lives at Ennerdale Close, Cockermouth. He had a near miss this morning when travelling down Kirkgate. Mr Mavin, a chef, set off when the light turned green but met an oncoming car coming round the corner from St Helen's Street, where there were no lights.

"It's ridiculous, any visitors would be bamboozled. It's so frustrating, you can't go 200 yards without coming to lights. It will be bedlam at peak times," he said.

"If it was a large city it could cope but this is a small market town."

A county council spokesman said the Lamplugh Road lights are in place to allow BT Openreach to carry out utility works. Work is due to be completed by the end of tomorrow.

He said the lights on Kirkgate and Market Place were to assist with the road closure diversion route and would be removed later today.

"They're to deter rat running and congestion. They will be removed this afternoon but if rat running and congestion occurs the situation will be reviewed," he said.

The Low Road rights were to facilitate works on Horseman Close.

"We can only apologise for the disruption these temporary restrictions cause, however due to the amount of works currently taking place on the network, delays are likely.

"None of the temporary lights are on diversion routes for closures, other than the Kirkgate one and this is to facilitate the diversion route," said the spokesman.

Roadworks on Station Road which were due to be completed by Sunday will be in place for an additional four days.

They have been been in place for five weeks as preparations are made for the new Lidl store off Station Road. They are expected to continue until Friday, March 2.

Utility works have taken longer than expected, said a Lidl spokesman.

Carriage resurfacing work started in town on Monday and will involve a lengthy detour over Whinlatter Pass for residents heading to Lorton.

The works, which cover approximately 4.2km, are expected to last three weeks, depending on the weather.

The first phase will extend from Victoria Road, Lorton Road and Windmill Lane Junction to Strawberry How Junction.

The second phase will extend from Strawberry How junction to Whinlatter pass junction in Lorton.

A county council spokesman said: "A way for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will be maintained at all times and a suitable alternative route for vehicles will be signed and available via the B5292 (Lorton), A66 (Keswick) and A5086 (Cockermouth).

"During Phase 1 residents within the area of South Lodge, Vicarage lane etc can gain access via Towers lane at all times from Strawberry How or Hundith Hill Cross roads.

"The road closure will work as a rolling road closure to facilitate as much access as possible to residents affected by the works. Access to school transport will be maintained and the site will be made safe to facilitate access during non-working hours.

"Whilst the works are ongoing Whinlatter Pass will be gritted when required to facilitate the alternative route."

Cumbria Highways has written to residents directly affected by the work.