Sir - The question asked by many long before they started work on the Abingdon traffic system was what would happen if there was a problem/accident in Stert Street when it is made one lane? The answer given at the time - "it will cope". The actual answer, as we discovered on Thursday, November 22, should have been "total chaos in Abingdon and surrounding villages".

The emergency electrical work could have been carried out without closing the road if it had been two lanes. They were only working on one side of the road, this would have eased many problems throughout the day. Another useless piece of the scheme is the painting of a box junction at the end of Ock Street and Stratton Way.

The Highway Code clearly states that you may enter a box junction in the case of emergency and when turning right. So if you turn right when coming out of town into Stratton Way you are still allowed to block the road as many people do. I ask how much more time and money is going to be wasted before someone admits they were wrong?

Paul Townsend, Abingdon