DRIVERS in Abingdon whave been struggling to get to grips with the town's new two-way system in Stratton Way.

Some criticised it as useless but others said it needed time as, on its first full working day on Monday long queues of traffic built up in the morning peak along Ock Street and Bridge Street and there was a build up in West St Helen Street as traffic from St Helen's Wharf funnelled into the High Street.

Drivers caught up in the congestion were unimpressed with the new system.

They doubted if it would ever work and said it would lead to more pollution.

But others said that as the day wore on congestion eased and believed it would eventually improve traffic conditions in the central area once the new system had bedded down and people became more aware of it.

Tony Legge drove from his home in Oxford Road to Ock Street and instead of travelling via Stert Street and High Street used Stratton Way.

He said: "It was much easier because I avoided the two main central streets. I sailed through but not all drivers are aware of the system and still use the old route.

"Give it a week or so and the new system will improve conditions in Abingdon with fewer vehicles travelling through the town centre."

Chamber of Commerce president Jill Carver, who owns a delicatessen in Stert Street, said: "There was a noticeable improvement in Stert Street with fewer vehicles and I think it can only get better once people become more aware but the county council needs to improve the signs in the Vineyard showing the two-way set-up."

Delivery driver David Johnson said traffic in the morning along Ock Street had backed up to the Spring Road roundabouts and it took him longer to reach Stert Street.

Postman Jason Thorne was unimpressed and said: "The lights control at the junction of Ock Street and High Street are making congestion worse.

"At times it builds up to the Spring Road roundabouts and causes delays for drivers coming into town from Drayton and Steventon."

Taxi driver Darren Spraggs agreed and said: "I think it's useless and doubt if it will ever achieve the aim of reducing congestion.

"From what I have seen so far it will make matters worse. With delays pollution will increase"

Three new bus stops are in place in Stratton Way, created in special bays to take buses off the carriagway.

Drivers reported delays to the Abingdon-Oxford services but put the blame down largely to traffic problems in Oxford rather than the new Stratton Way system.

Senior county council project engineer Andy Warren said: "It would be unrealistic to expect a major transformation on the first full day. It needs time and for people to get used to a change to a system that had been in place for 30 years.

"We have signal engineers on site monitoring the traffic and they will make adjustments to the phasing of the lights if they feel it necessary."

The county council's cabinet member for transport David Robertson said: "Any new system takes time to bed down and for a short time the benefits will not be obvious as people get use to the layout.

"People should give it time and judge it over the longer term."