HUNDREDS of commuters are "raging with anger" with some abandoning their cars after waiting for more than two hours to get off the car park at Rowley Regis train station.

South Staffs Water has put three-way temporary traffic lights at the Station Road/Cakemore Road island while work is carried out in Nimmings Road to repair a burst water main.

The lights are causing huge queues and massive disruption for commuters who have been venting their anger on twitter.

The work started yesterday (Tuesday) and was expected to last till the end of the week - but South Staffs water said the lights should come down tomorrow - with people calling for better traffic management to help ease the hellish congestion.

Lee Southen tweeted: "I hope I won't be waiting for nearly 2 hours again tonight to leave #RowleyRegis car park because of inadequate traffic management.

"Along with hundreds of other motorists we are raging with anger at #RowleyRegis train station car park."

Tim Bullock stated on twitter that he had abandoned his car after an hour of waiting.


Katy Baker tweeted the above pic of motorists queueing saying: "Yet again roadworks are affecting the ability to leave #rowleyregis car park.

"3rd/4th time this year without warning. 100s cars trying to exit at once and easily an hour delay.

"I was stuck for over an hour, fortunately my husband was able to get our son from childcare.

"Left jewellery quarter at 17.00, home at 19.00.

"Really poor management of the situation."

 


Jon Payton, who uses the station to commute to his job in procurement in Birmingham every day, said he had been starting work early and leaving early to try to avoid spending hours queuing.

The 43-year-old, who lives in Hayley Green, said: "I'm lucky because I can avoid the worst times, but it still took me more than 20 minutes to get off.

"It will be a nightmare with massive queues again today.

"To have to spend two hours just getting off the car park when you have been at work all day is extremely frustrating."

Andrew Lobley, Director of Operations, at South Staffs Water, said: “We are currently carrying out work in Nimmings Road in Rowley Regis following a burst water main.

"I appreciate that this is a busy island, particularly as it is next to the station, and I’m sorry for the delays that this work is causing.

"We are working to get the work completed as soon as possible and are controlling the lights manually to help the traffic get through.

"We are due to finish work today and we will then need to let the road surface fully set, so the traffic lights should be able to come down tomorrow.”

A West Midlands Railway spokesperson said: “We are sorry some passengers using Rowley Regis car park have been impacted by emergency water works taking place nearby.

“The water company has indicated the repairs will be completed soon and has put in place temporary traffic management in the meantime.”